CFL, NFL revive officiating program with joint training camp sessions
TORONTO — The CFL and NFL have revived their officiating development program, with two crews of seven CFL officials taking part in NFL training camp practices, beginning Wednesday.
The first iteration of the initiative was run between 2016-2019.
This year's edition will feature current officials from both leagues, along with participants in the NFL's development system.
The CFL officials will travel to Minnesota to share insights and best practices with their NFL counterparts as the Vikings welcome the New England Patriots.
A separate crew of seven will go to Philadelphia to exchange knowledge with local officials while the Eagles host the Cleveland Browns.
Because of current in-season time commitments by CFL officials and staff, NFL officials will not travel to Canada at this time. The two sides will explore future opportunities for exchange and collaboration in Canada at a later date.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 12, 2025.
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- Toronto Sun
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SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account As a prominent football analyst getting better with each set of downs, it seems, the Canadian isn't shy about the cheap shots coming his way for his work on TSN's CFL coverage. Even when they come with ridiculous consequences from those attempting to silence him. In fact, Willson is going on the offensive for those pushing back at his criticisms of the CFL, the type of commentary never before heard so pointedly and vocally on the network. 'I believe that the board of governors have rats within (the CFL), both on air and behind the scenes,' Willson said in a post on X on Saturday that quickly sizzled on the social media site among the league's observers. 'They want me gone. I am like a roach. Tough to kill.' 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5 minutes ago
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TSN's Luke Willson rips CFL 'rats' for attempting to silence him, then removes post
When he was a Super Bowl-winning tight end with the Seattle Seahawks, Luke Willson never shied away from taking a big hit. Article content As a prominent football analyst getting better with each set of downs, it seems, the Canadian isn't shy about the cheap shots coming his way for his work on TSN's CFL coverage. Article content Article content Even when they come with ridiculous consequences from those attempting to silence him. Article content In fact, Willson is going on the offensive for those pushing back at his criticisms of the CFL, the type of commentary never before heard so pointedly and vocally on the network. Article content 'I believe that the board of governors have rats within (the CFL), both on air and behind the scenes,' Willson said in a post on X on Saturday that quickly sizzled on the social media site among the league's observers. 'They want me gone. I am like a roach. Tough to kill.' Article content While Willson didn't elaborate on those who would like to see him muted, the pushback has been strong, even if much of it is from league apologists. Article content And then, within hours on Saturday, it became real. Article content It didn't take long for what appeared to be the enemy within to emerge, as by mid-Saturday afternoon Willson's post from X had been removed. The popular broadcaster posted a gif of a person getting his wrist slapped with a caption 'oops.' In a reply to that post, Willson acknowledged that he had been asked to delete his criticisms. Article content It's all just silliness, really, and if, in fact, TSN made Willson remove his opinion, it's a terrible (if unsurprising) bit of censorship of a dude who has brought considerable attention — good and bad — to both the CFL and his network's coverage this season. And depending on how it all went down, it showed how deeply TSN and the CFL are in bed together. The fact is that the LaSalle, Ont. native has been a fresh voice on the CFL shows, building on the terrific insight he brings to TSN's NFL coverage. The criticism has been predictable in that many of Willson's more vocal opposition centres on a belief that he has an NFL bias. Article content Of course, those accusations just make Willson laugh. As they should as well to anyone who has listened to his full body of work on CFL coverage this season. Article content What initially prompted Willson's latest social media tirade was news on Friday that both the Toronto Argos will be playing a significant portion of their 'home' schedule on the road in 2026 to make room for the World Cup that will see games played at BMO Field.
