1988 CFL season

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1988 CFL season

Overview
- The 1988 season is considered the CFL’s 31st official season (and the 35th season of modern-day Canadian football). It ran from July 12 to November 6, with the Grey Cup on November 27 in Ottawa.
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers won the Grey Cup, defeating the BC Lions 22–21 at Lansdowne Park. This was the first Grey Cup game between teams from west of Ontario, and the first to be won by a team with a .500 regular-season record. James Murphy (offense) and Michael Gray (defense) were the Grey Cup MVPs, and Bob Cameron was the Grey Cup’s Most Valuable Canadian.

Key events and changes
- The Canadian Football Network extended its CFL deal for two more seasons.
- Rosters were changed: teams carried 20 non-imports, 14 imports, and 2 quarterbacks; the reserve list was shortened to 2 players. If a team dressed 14 imports, one had to be a special-teams player.
- The CFL All-Stars defeated the Edmonton Eskimos 17–4 in the CFL All-Star Game in Edmonton (June 23); attendance was 27,573.
- Off-field changes included the CFL Board naming Roy McMurtry as Chairman/CEO and Bill Baker as President/COO (succeeding Douglas Mitchell). Their appointments were confirmed January 1, 1989. Toronto Argonauts were sold to Harry Ornest.

Regular season standings (highlights)
- East Division: Toronto Argonauts finished strong at 14–4; Winnipeg, Hamilton, and Ottawa were among other teams in the mix.
- West Division: Edmonton Eskimos and Saskatchewan Roughriders each went 11–7; BC Lions 10–8; Calgary Stampeders 6–12.
- Bold text in standings indicates teams that clinched playoff spots.

Grey Cup playoffs
- The Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the BC Lions 22–21 to win the 76th Grey Cup, played in Ottawa.
- Grey Cup MVPs:
- Offense: James Murphy (WR)
- Defense: Michael Gray (DT)
- Most Valuable Canadian: Bob Cameron (P)

CFL leaders and awards
- CFL's Most Outstanding Player: David Williams (WR), BC Lions
- CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian: Ray Elgaard (SB), Saskatchewan Roughriders
- Most Outstanding Defensive Player: Grover Covington (DE), Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman: Roger Aldag (OG), Saskatchewan Roughriders
- Most Outstanding Rookie: Orville Lee (RB), Ottawa Rough Riders
- CFLPA Outstanding Community Service Award: Hector Pothier (OT), Edmonton Eskimos
- CFL Coach of the Year: Mike Riley, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

1988 CFL All-Stars
- All-Star selections covered offense, defense, and special teams, featuring players such as Matt Dunigan (QB, BC Lions), Ray Elgaard (Saskatchewan), Grover Covington (Hamilton), and others across the league.

Note
- The season is remembered for Winnipeg’s Grey Cup win and for notable roster, governance, and broadcast changes that shaped CFL operations in the late 1980s.