The Canadian Football League (CFL) is gearing up for a 2021 season by putting in place the building blocks for teams building their rosters.
It announced:
- A moratorium on the re-signing of players clubs will be lifted, effective December 7 at noon ET.
- The league’s free agency period – during which teams can sign any player whose CFL contract has expired – will open February 9 at noon ET.
- The full list of pending free agents has now been shared with all CFL teams and it is being released today to the media and the public. (It is attached, below.)
CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie:
“As we look forward to 2021 and a CFL season with optimism, we are moving to provide our clubs with the guidelines and information they need to build competitive rosters,” said Randy Ambrosie, Commissioner of the CFL.
“While we are quite aware of the COVID-19 challenges currently facing society at large and sports in particular, we are also encouraged by the almost daily reports of progress in the development and distribution of rapid tests, treatments and, most importantly, vaccines. We are taking every step to be prepared to return to the field next year.”
The CFL canceled its 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and hasn’t set a return-to-play date but is looking at a number of options for the 2021 season. All the Global players who were signed to teams when the 2020 season was cancelled, including Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive end Thiadric Hansen, who was released by the Bombers and enjoyed a successful season playing in Poland with the Wroclaw Panthers, will be eligible to return to their teams.
There is no word as yet on the status of the Global Combine and Global Draft.