CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie set to retire in 2025

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After seven years on the job, Canadian Football League commissioner Randy Ambrosie is set to retire.

The league made the official announcement on Saturday, during the final day of the 2024 regular season, that Ambrosie’s tenure will be over once he and the CFL’s board of governors find a successor.

“Working together, we have put the CFL on a much sounder foundation, with strong new owners, improved attendance, growing TV ratings, superbly fun and entertaining football, and noteworthy progress in our larger markets,” Ambrosie said in a release. “There is always more to be done, and I look forward to welcoming the next Commissioner who will seek to take our league to even greater heights.

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“Until that person has been chosen and is ready to take over, I will continue to work hard on behalf of the CFL. When I do step aside sometime next year, I will do so with a profound sense of achievement, satisfaction and gratitude. I want to thank our Governors, team presidents, players and coaches and staff, and our valued business partners. I especially want to thank our great fans from coast to coast, and particularly my wonderful wife Barb and our smart and beautiful daughters, for their support.”

Ambrosie became the 14th commissioner of the CFL in 2017, taking over for Jeffrey Orridge who was in the role for two years. The 61-year-old Ambrosie played nine seasons in the CFL with Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton.

“My goal has always been to leave the league in better condition than I found it, and I am proud that the CFL has grown stronger in the past seven years,” Ambrosie said. “Serving as Commissioner is a tremendous honour. It is also a job that requires total dedication, seven days a week, almost 365 days a year.

“After more than seven years, I feel the time is right for a transition, once a successor is named, and I will do everything in my power to help the next Commissioner achieve even more. Until then, it is business as usual.”

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The CFL’s board of governors also issued a statement praising Ambrosie for his passion for Canadian football, work ethic and leadership.

“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Randy for his leadership and for providing us with as much notice as possible of his intention to retire. His willingness to stay on until his successor is named will allow for a seamless and successful transition likely sometime in 2025,” said chair Scott Banda.

“Randy has shepherded the league through some very difficult challenges, including the pandemic and leadership changes at the team level. To meet those challenges and build a stronger brand with growing fandom, a new digital marketing strategy, effective ownership and leadership across the league, and rule and procedure changes that have delivered fun, fast, and entertaining football, is a positive legacy indeed.

“Randy has built the foundation on which the league can move to the next level.”

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