Breadcrumb Trail Links
Sports
Football
“I think Montreal did more for me than I did for Montreal in my career,” veteran says of two-season run that included a Grey Cup title.
Author of the article:
Montreal Gazette
Montreal Gazette
Herb Zurkowsky
Published Aug 08, 2025 • Last updated 12 minutes ago • 4 minute read
0809 spt inside cfl col.jpg
"The thing that Montreal gave me is something nobody can take away -- being a Grey Cup quarterback," says Cody Fajardo, hoisting the trophy as the Alouettes celebrate after defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the CFL championship game in Hamilton, Ont., on Nov. 19, 2023. Frank Gunn/Canadian Press
Article content
Riding the carousel that is often the norm for CFL players, veteran quarterback Cody Fajardo can’t say Montreal was a long-term residence.
Advertisement 2
Toronto Sun
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
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.
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
Article content
While his two seasons with the Alouettes were abruptly cut short, and Fajardo received the short end of the stick — departing 13 months after leading the franchise to its first Grey Cup victory in 13 seasons — the organization salvaged his career at a time when all the starting quarterback jobs appeared to be filled.
Article content
Article content
And that’s something Fajardo, 33, in his ninth season, won’t ever forget as he returned to Montreal for Friday night’s game against the Als at Molson Stadium.
“I think Montreal did more for me than I did for Montreal in my career. I can’t reiterate that enough,” Fajardo told The Gazette this week. “Going to Montreal and having that success did way more for my career.”
There’s no doubt the Als resurrected Fajardo’s career when it appeared to be on life support after being run out of Regina and blamed for all of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ shortcomings. The native of Brea, Calif., gave the team what it needed — legitimacy, a championship and a return to prominence.
opening envelope
Your Midday Sun
Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
Article content
Advertisement 3
Article content
Signed as a free agent by Montreal in 2023 after the departure of Trevor Harris to Saskatchewan, the move at the time appeared to be nothing more than a stopgap, desperate transaction. Instead, the Als recovered from a four-game losing streak and a 6-7 record to win their final eight games, capped by their comeback victory against Winnipeg in the Grey Cup. Fajardo was named the game’s most valuable player.
In a perfect world, Fajardo would still be with the Als, having signed a contract extension after the Cup win that would have commenced this season. But he suffered a hamstring injury last July, when Montreal was 5-0, and never seemed to recapture his moxie upon returning.
With Davis Alexander, 26, enjoying unbridled success during Fajardo’s absence, management decided he would be the future and the Als traded Fajardo to Edmonton in December for quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson. Bethel-Thompson has become the Als’ starter with Alexander on the six-game injured list.
Advertisement 4
Article content
Fajardo was enjoying success last season before his injury and appeared destined for a most outstanding player nomination.
“I was playing some of the best ball of my career,” he said. “I think we would have kept momentum late in the year and going into the playoffs. Maybe it would have been a different (East Division final) against Toronto. I don’t know, but the only way I was going to be back in Montreal was if we were in the Grey Cup. That’s how I envisioned it.”
Montreal Alouettes quarterback Cody Fajardo acknowledges the crowd lining de Maisonneuve Blvd. for the team’s Grey Cup parade while riding in a convertible with his wife, Laura, and son, Luca, in Montreal on Nov. 22, 2023.
Als general manager Danny Maciocia said it would have been unfair to Fajardo — especially after he requested a trade — to retain him as Alexander’s backup. And while Fajardo went to Edmonton as Tre Ford’s backup and took the pay cut he was destined to receive with the Als, that move made sense considering Fajardo had no history with the Elks.
Advertisement 5
Article content
“The biggest thing was it would have been unfair to Davis if you’re really going to make him the franchise guy,” Fajardo said. “It would have been a weird dynamic when you had a franchise guy there who had won you the Grey Cup, had the best record in the CFL and you kept him on as your backup. They wanted to give him that vote of confidence … to give Davis a clean slate.”
Nonetheless, the story has come full circle. Edmonton deemed Ford, a native of Niagara Falls, Ont., to be its franchise QB, signing him in December to a three-year contract extension, including a reported $100,000 bonus. But after a 1-4 start, and with a rookie head coach in Mark Kilam, the Elks benched Ford two games ago for Fajardo.
While Edmonton has yet to win with Fajardo, the team’s play has vastly improved, losing to Saskatchewan and Hamilton by a combined seven points. Fajardo has passed for 603 yards, completing 79.3 per cent of his throws, and three touchdowns while being intercepted once. He has brought a calm presence to the huddle and remains one of the CFL’s most accurate passers. He completed his first 17 attempts against the Tiger-Cats.
Advertisement 6
Article content
If returning to Saskatchewan two weeks ago for the first time since 2022 was emotional, Fajardo said facing the Als for the first time on their home field carried similar, albeit slightly tempered, significance.
“The thing that Montreal gave me is something nobody can take away — being a Grey Cup quarterback,” he said. “The amount of people who thought I couldn’t do it after 2022 kind of validated my career. When the schedule came out, I’d be lying if I said some games don’t mean just a little bit more. This would be one.
“Obviously, there’s a great storyline with me leaving Montreal … but it never has been a me vs. McLeod thing. I think the Alouettes were doing me a favour.”
Article content
Share this article in your social network
Comments