The Toronto Argonauts have made a significant addition to their football operations, bringing in a Canadian Football League icon with a resume that spans both sides of the border. John Hufnagel, the 74-year-old former Calgary Stampeders quarterback, coach, and executive, has joined the Double Blue as a special advisor. The move marks a major shift for Hufnagel, whose entire 35-year CFL career as a player and coach was spent exclusively in the West Division.
A Legendary Career Crosses Divisions
The unexpected call came to Hufnagel at his home in Alberta just a few weeks ago. On the line was Argonauts General Manager Michael "Pinball" Clemons, who pitched the idea of Hufnagel working for Toronto. For a football vagabond who has seen almost everything, this was a new frontier. "It was something I never thought about before," Hufnagel admitted, noting that Toronto has often felt like an outpost in the league compared to his familiar western stomping grounds.
Hufnagel's football life reads like a history of the sport. He played quarterback under the legendary Joe Paterno at Penn State, compiling a 26-3 record as a starter. His professional journey is a tapestry of greatness: he won a Super Bowl with Bill Belichick in New England, coached a young Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, worked alongside Tom Coughlin, and learned the CFL ropes from the iconic Wally Buono in Calgary.
His coaching tree includes work with some of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play. Beyond Brady and Manning, he coached Doug Flutie and Henry Burris in Calgary, and Kurt Warner and Eli Manning during his stint as offensive coordinator for the New York Giants. He is credited with innovating offensive schemes, including being the first to regularly deploy a six-receiver set in the CFL, which revolutionized passing attacks.
Filling a Void for the Argos
The Argonauts' pursuit of Hufnagel comes after a period of instability and high-profile rejections. The team had attempted to hire Mike O'Shea and former Argo Orlondo Steinauer to be their head coach, but both declined. The head coaching role ultimately went to Mike Miller, a first-time CFL head coach. To provide experience and stability around him, the Argos turned to veterans.
They brought back Jim Barker, 69, as director of player personnel, and now have secured Hufnagel in an advisory capacity. While Pinball Clemons remains the GM, his role is more ambassadorial. Hufnagel's mandate is to oversee personnel, mentor Miller, and evaluate the roster and playbooks. "I think I'm very good at understanding talent," Hufnagel stated.
Remarkably, Hufnagel will not relocate to Toronto. He plans to work remotely from Alberta, a practice normalized during the COVID-19 pandemic. "You can work from just about anywhere and get the job done," he said, pointing to his successful track record. That record includes five Grey Cup championships with the Stampeders across various roles.
A New Chapter at 74
At an age when most in football have long since retired, Hufnagel's passion remains undimmed. He felt his time with the Stampeders was concluding. "I sensed I wasn't really in their plans anymore," he shared. The Argos' offer presented a new challenge and a chance to contribute to a franchise that has won two Grey Cups in recent years.
"I still get up at 3 in the morning, I'm still ready to go to work the minute I get up," Hufnagel said. "I've always been like that. I don't plan on slowing down now." His immediate focus will be on evaluating the Argos' roster and impending free agents over the next two months.
A key project will be working with the team's gifted but controversial starting quarterback, Chad Kelly. "He's a very gifted quarterback. I look forward to working with him," Hufnagel noted.
Characteristically humble about his profound impact on players, especially the legendary quarterbacks he guided early in their careers, Hufnagel offered a simple assessment: "You can say this about my time with them: I didn't screw them up." The Toronto Argonauts are betting his legendary touch can help guide their franchise forward.
