1987 CFL season

The 1987 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 34th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 30th Canadian Football League season.

CFL News in 1987
The Canadian Football League celebrated the 75th Annual Grey Cup game at BC Place Stadium on Sunday, November 29.

The Canadian Football Network, which was syndicated on Canadian television stations, was created. The CFL experimented with their blackout policy by blacking out four televised games in both, Hamilton and Toronto (two in Hamilton and two in Toronto). Cable outlet TSN also began broadcasting the CFL in 1987, gaining the rights to games that had been passed on by CBC and CFN.

Game rosters were revised from 35 to 34 that included 19-Non-Imports, 13-Imports and 2-Quarterbacks. The reserve list was increased from three to four.

The Montreal Alouettes folded for the second time on June 24. With the team's demise the CFL revised the season schedule and moved the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to the East Division where they remain to this day.

The playoff format reverted back to its pre-1986 format.

Final regular season standings
Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Pts = Points


 * Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs.
 * BC and Winnipeg have first round byes.

Grey Cup playoffs
The Edmonton Eskimos are the 1987 Grey Cup champions, defeating the Toronto Argonauts 38–36, at Vancouver's BC Place Stadium. This game eventually became the battle of the backups when starters, Matt Dunigan and Gilbert Renfroe became injured leaving backups Damon Allen and Danny Barrett to take over. The Eskimos' Damon Allen (QB) was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player on Offence and Stewart Hill (DE) was named Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player on Defence, while Milson Jones (RB) was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian.

Offence

 * QB – Tom Clements, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * RB – Willard Reaves, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * RB – Gill Fenerty, Toronto Argonauts
 * SB – Darrell Smith, Toronto Argonauts
 * SB – Perry Tuttle, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * WR – Brian Kelly, Edmonton Eskimos
 * WR – Jim Sandusky, BC Lions
 * C – Rod Connop, Edmonton Eskimos
 * OG – Roger Aldag, Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * OG – Dan Ferrone, Toronto Argonauts
 * OT – Chris Walby, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * OT – Chris Schultz, Toronto Argonauts

Defence

 * DT – Mike Walker, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * DT – Jerald Baylis, Toronto Argonauts
 * DE – Greg Stumon, BC Lions
 * DE – Bobby Jurasin, Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * LB – James West, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * LB – Tyrone Jones, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * LB – Kevin Konar, BC Lions
 * CB – Roy Bennett, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * CB – James Jefferson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * DB – Larry Crawford, BC Lions
 * DB – Ken Hailey, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * DS – Scott Flagel, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Special teams

 * P – Hank Ilesic, Toronto Argonauts
 * K – Dave Ridgway, Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * ST – Henry "Gizmo" Williams, Edmonton Eskimos

1987 CFL Awards

 * CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Tom Clements (QB), Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Scott Flagel (DS), Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Greg Stumon (DE), BC Lions
 * CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award – Chris Walby (OT), Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award – Gill Fenerty (RB), Toronto Argonauts
 * CFLPA's Most Outstanding Community Service Award – Nick Arakgi (DE), Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * CFL's Coach of the Year – Bob O'Billovich, Toronto Argonauts