- Source: 1988 CFL season
The 1988 CFL season is considered to be the 35th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 31st Canadian Football League season.
CFL News in 1988
The Canadian Football Network reached an agreement with the CFL to extend its network for two more seasons.
Game rosters were revised to consist of 20-Non Imports, 14-Imports and 2-Quarterbacks. The reserve list was lowered from 4 players to 2 players. In addition, if a team decided to dress 14-Imports, one of those imports had to be designated as a special teams player.
On June 23, the CFL All-Stars defeated the Edmonton Eskimos in the CFL All-Star Game in Edmonton, 17–4. Although the contest attracted an All-Star record 27,573 fans, no such game has been held since then.
On Monday, December 12, the CFL Board of Governors appointed Roy McMurty as Chairman/Chief Executive Officer and Bill Baker as President/Chief Operating Officer, succeeding Douglas Mitchell as the league's commissioner (both McMurtry and Baker served as the league's de facto co-commissioners for the 1989 season). Their appointments were confirmed on Sunday, January 1, 1989. The CFL Board of Governors also approved the sale of the Toronto Argonauts from Carling O'Keefe Breweries to Harry Ornest.
Regular season standings
= Final regular season standings
=Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs.
Edmonton and Toronto have first round byes.
Grey Cup playoffs
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are the 1988 Grey Cup champions, defeating the BC Lions 22–21, at Ottawa's Lansdowne Park. This was the first Grey Cup game between two teams from west of Ontario, and the first to be won by a team which had only a .500 season. The Blue Bombers' James Murphy (WR) was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player on Offence and Michael Gray (DT) was named Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player on Defence, while Bob Cameron (P) was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian.
= Playoff bracket
=CFL Leaders
CFL Passing Leaders
CFL Rushing Leaders
CFL Receiving Leaders
1988 CFL All-Stars
= Special teams
=P – Bob Cameron, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
K – Dave Ridgway, Saskatchewan Roughriders
ST – Earl Winfield, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
1988 Eastern All-Stars
= Special teams
=P – Bob Cameron, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
K – Lance Chomyc, Toronto Argonauts
ST – Earl Winfield, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
1988 Western All-Stars
= Special teams
=P – Jerry Kauric, Edmonton Eskimos
K – Dave Ridgway, Saskatchewan Roughriders
ST – Henry Williams, Edmonton Eskimos
1988 CFL Awards
CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – David Williams (WR), BC Lions
CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Ray Elgaard (SB), Saskatchewan Roughriders
CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Grover Covington (DE), Hamilton Tiger-Cats
CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award – Roger Aldag (OG), Saskatchewan Roughriders
CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award – Orville Lee (RB), Ottawa Rough Riders
CFLPA's Outstanding Community Service Award – Hector Pothier (OT), Edmonton Eskimos
CFL's Coach of the Year – Mike Riley, Winnipeg Blue Bombers