This is the third installment of our series ranking all 70 primary CFL logos, so if you haven’t yet, check them out. part One Or part TwoClick on the link to take a stroll down the memory lane.
A reminder of the ground rules: No alternate or special logos included – only the primary logo. Voting was cast by 12 individuals, at least one of whom represented all nine CFL markets. We also did not include teams that never played a game.
Most of these photos came courtesy of SportsLogos.netHowever others were obtained directly from the teams or elsewhere online. To keep things neutral, all logos were presented on a plain white background.
Without further ado, here are the logos from 30 to 16.
30. Ottawa Rough Riders (1975–85)
As we’ve written before in these rankings, putting a logo on a helmet doesn’t make it a new logo. However, if you’re going to do it, this is the way to execute it. Ottawa’s ‘R’ is as iconic as any look in the CFL and this logo matches the team’s on-field aesthetic perfectly. There is a lack of creativity here but it’s hard to argue with the results.
29. Toronto Argonauts (2005)
The Argonauts briefly forgot about representing the double blue in the mid-2000s, removing the Cambridge blue altogether and outlining their Oxford blue shield with grey. Fortunately, this decision was reversed a year later when Cambridge Blue returned to the logo and removed the ill-advised gray to create a better logo.
28. BC Lions (2005–present)
BC’s current logo comes four spots ahead of its predecessor, which was almost identical except for a handful of dots and a slightly different shade of orange. This is the second least active primary logo in our rankings and the Lions are the only team in the top 25 without a logo, which means it may be time for a change on the West Coast.
27. Montreal Alouettes (1970–73)
The green eye in this logo pays homage to the green accents that began appearing on Montreal’s uniforms in 1967 along with an all-green jersey that the team wore at home for four seasons. This trend didn’t last long as Montreal switched to blue in 1974, but we’ll always have this logo to remind us of the sudden color change in La Belle Province.
26. Saskatchewan Roughriders (1985–2015)
This logo is very similar to the one that followed, although there are some notable differences. There is a surprising amount of gray in this symbol, considering it has never actually been one of Saskatchewan’s colours, and the tail of the ‘S’ is oddly long. Overall, this is a solid logo, although the update it received in 2016 was definitely an improvement.
25. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1996–2004)
This logo marked a bold departure from Winnipeg’s previous logo, embracing the “radical” movement of the 1990s with a giant lightning bolt. The team’s colors also changed, as yellow became green-gold and royal blue became navy blue. It appears that our voters did not like these changes, as the logo it replaced ranked highly.
24. Memphis Mad Dogs
The Mad Dogs finished with the second-highest logo in our rankings among American teams, which seems like a fair consolation prize. The growling dog is scary, but not scary enough to distract small children, while the wordmark on the bone is clever. If the Cleveland Browns ever want to upgrade their logo, an orange and brown version of this symbol would look pretty attractive.
23. CFL (2016–present)
We’re officially two-thirds of the way through our rankings and have arrived at the current CFL logo. The symbol is certainly clean and clear, although it has been criticized for being a bit faded. The CFL is a corporate entity, sure, but it feels a little cold and impersonal for a league that means so much to Canadians.
22. Calgary Stampeders (2013–15)
The Stampeders temporarily added a larger circle to the background of their logo, which fixed the problem with its predecessor: there was no red. Later, the logo was changed to remove the bulge on the circle, which lost the illusion of a three-dimensional logo.
21. Edmonton Football Team (1988–95)
It is the second of Edmonton’s three oval-shaped ‘EE’ logos, 16 positions higher than the symbol it replaced. It includes a thinner gold strip around the outside of the logo, a more uniform oval shape, and slightly more stylish text. We’ve found two Edmonton logos that rank higher than this one, but there’s no denying that this one is pretty eye-catching.
20. Toronto Argonauts (1956–75)
The Argonauts have had four different boat logos, three of which made our top 20. The colors are great, and it has a lot of intricate detail, which fits the time period in which it was released. Toronto’s current logo is certainly an upgrade from this but it’s a classic for a reason.
19. Toronto Argonauts (1995–2004)
This logo marked the first appearance of gray on the Argonauts logo, although the team maintained its double-blue color scheme with a thick outline of Cambridge blue. The shield is amazing, the hero is intimidating, and the logo shape is fun, unique. It’s almost hard to believe that the Argonauts still have three logos to come.
18. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1968–94)
There is a lot of history associated with this logo as it was the symbol of the team when they won three Gray Cups from 1984 to 1990 and was worn by legends such as Dieter Brock, Chris Walby and Tyrone Jones. Again, this logo was never actually worn on Winnipeg’s helmets, having a plain white ‘W’ on it, as it was relegated to the sleeve.
17. Montreal Alouettes (1974–81, 1986)
If the Alouettes had not folded after the 1986 season, this logo would still be in use today because it is so popular. The emblem, worn on the front or sides of the helmet, is undoubtedly a product of its time, featuring bold colors and geometric patterns. If you look closely, you’ll see that the blue shape is ‘A’, the red shape is ‘M’, and the white space between them looks like a bird flying.
16.Baltimore Stallions
The top-ranked American team on our list is also the team that has achieved the most success on the field so far. Baltimore’s color scheme was taken directly from the Colts, who left for Indianapolis in 1984, although the logo itself was completely different.
Come back tomorrow when we reveal the top 15 CFL logos of all time.
Post Ranking every primary CFL logo of all time (30-16) first appeared on 3downnation,
