What Happened to Canadian Football League Players' Association (CFLPA)?
The Canadian Football League Players' Association (CFLPA) is the union representing professional football players in the Canadian Football League. Established in 1965, the CFLPA advocates for fair working conditions, player rights, and negotiates collective bargaining agreements with the CFL, most recently securing a significant salary cap increase for the 2026 season due to revenue sharing. As of 2026, the association continues to be led by President Solomon Elimimian and Executive Director David Mackie, while actively preparing for potential collective bargaining discussions related to a 2027 opt-out clause.
Quick Answer
The CFL Players' Association (CFLPA) remains the official union for Canadian Football League players, actively representing their interests in 2026. Led by re-elected President Solomon Elimimian and Executive Director David Mackie, the CFLPA successfully negotiated a significant increase in the 2026 salary cap to over $6.2 million, driven by a revenue-sharing model from their 2022 collective bargaining agreement. The association is currently evaluating a potential opt-out clause in their CBA for the 2027 season, tied to the league's broadcast agreement, indicating ongoing efforts to secure optimal conditions for its members.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
CFLPA Established
The Canadian Football League Players' Association (CFLPA) was officially established to represent CFL players and advocate for fair working conditions, contracts, and benefits, with John Agro, Q.C., serving as its first legal counsel.
New Four-Year CBA Announced
The CFLPA and CFL announced a new four-year collective bargaining agreement, setting terms for player salaries, benefits, and working conditions.
Mike Morreale Elected President
Former player Mike Morreale was elected as President of the CFLPA, serving until 2014.
Solomon Elimimian First Elected President
Solomon Elimimian, a respected former player, was first elected as President of the CFLPA, beginning his leadership tenure.
New Collective Bargaining Agreement Ratified
After a brief strike, the CFLPA and CFL ratified a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement, introducing partially guaranteed contracts and a revenue-sharing formula for players.
Affiliation with Canadian Labour Congress
The CFLPA officially joined forces with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), Canada's largest labour organization, significantly expanding its collective bargaining power and support network.
CFLPA Academy Partners with Shift Group
The CFLPA Academy announced a partnership with Shift Group, effective through October 31, 2026, to provide career development resources and opportunities for active and former CFLPA members.
CFLPA to Weigh 2027 CBA Opt-Out
CFLPA President Solomon Elimimian confirmed the association would consider exercising a 2027 opt-out clause in the CBA, which is tied to the CFL's television broadcast agreement with TSN expiring at the end of 2026.
2026 Salary Cap Increase Announced
The CFL and CFLPA announced that the 2026 salary cap would rise to $6,280,514, triggered by the revenue growth sharing model established in the 2022 CBA.
Solomon Elimimian Re-elected President
Solomon Elimimian was re-elected for his fourth term as President of the CFLPA at the Annual General Meeting, with David Mackie continuing as Executive Director.
Statement on 2027 Playoff Format Changes
The CFLPA issued a statement acknowledging and confirming its collaboration with the CFL on changes to the 2027 CFL playoff format, ensuring player interests were considered.
Final 2026 Salary Cap Agreed
The league and CFLPA agreed to a final salary cap of $6,330,514 for the 2026 season, along with increased playoff compensation for the 2027 season.
2026 Player Representatives Unveiled
The CFLPA unveiled the elected player representatives for each of the nine CFL teams for the 2026 season, who serve as liaisons between players and the union.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The Canadian Football League Players' Association (CFLPA), founded in 1965, has consistently served as the voice for professional football players in the Canadian Football League (CFL), striving to establish fair and reasonable working conditions and protect player rights. Its formation was a direct response to the lack of player protection, poor medical benefits, and non-standard contracts prevalent before 1965, with lawyer John Agro, Q.C., playing a pivotal role in its establishment.
Over the decades, the CFLPA has been instrumental in securing crucial benefits for its members, including pension plans, improved medical coverage, and standardized player contracts. A significant turning point occurred in 2022 when the CFLPA and the CFL ratified a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) after a brief strike. This agreement, set to expire in 2029, included historic gains such as partially guaranteed contracts for veteran players and a revenue-sharing formula. This revenue-sharing model proved impactful, leading to a substantial increase in the salary cap for the 2025 season and again for the 2026 season. On January 23, 2026, the CFL and CFLPA announced the 2026 salary cap would rise to $6,280,514, with a further adjustment to $6,330,514 by April 29, 2026, reflecting the allocation of the players' share of increased league revenue.
In a strategic move to bolster its influence and support for members, the CFLPA officially affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) on April 18, 2024. This affiliation connected the CFLPA, representing approximately 650 players, with Canada's largest labour organization, providing a stronger collective voice and increased stability for the union and the league.
As of October 8, 2026, the CFLPA continues its active role under the leadership of President Solomon Elimimian, who was re-elected for his fourth term on March 20, 2026, alongside Executive Director David Mackie. The association is currently focused on future negotiations, particularly regarding an opt-out clause in the current CBA for the 2027 season. This clause is tied to the CFL's television broadcast agreement with TSN, which is set to expire on December 31, 2026. The CFLPA has indicated it will carefully consider exercising this option, depending on the terms of any new broadcast deal, to potentially renegotiate the CBA earlier than 2029. Furthermore, the CFLPA Academy has partnered with Shift Group to support player career development, a partnership effective from November 1, 2025, through October 31, 2026, demonstrating the association's commitment to its members' long-term well-being beyond their playing careers. The CFLPA also collaborated with the CFL on changes to the 2027 playoff format, ensuring player interests were considered.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Canadian Football League Players' Association (CFLPA) made different choices?