For the 2025 season, the CFL on TSN augmented its Friday Night Football presentation with new graphics, a new introduction song sung by the players, and added sideline analyst Luke Willson.
Willson has shared his insight and expertise for TSN’s NFL coverage alongside Saskatoon’s Jay Onrait and in other ways for the network. This year, LaSalle, ON native added sideline analysis to his repertoire with Friday Night Football. From breaking down plays and strategy to sharing his insights as a former NFL player, the refreshed perspective has been a welcome addition to viewers.
However, following the Saskatchewan Roughriders 39-32 win over the Argonauts in Toronto during Week 3, which featured a game-winning kickoff return touchdown by Mario Alford, the XLVIII Super Bowl champion took to social media: “That game was hot garbage.” His comment had many CFL fans across the league, especially in green and white, seeing red. Willson joined the 620 CKRM Co-operators Rider Broadcast Network to clarify his take.
“We want to come on in the media and be like: 'This is the greatest game of all-time. This was unbelievable.' I'm like: 'Well, there's 300 yards of penalties, 12 quarterback sneaks, and the Alford return was electric.' But it did, for me, take a bit away when I'm like: 'Toronto couldn't even get enough guys on the damn field.' So I think what got construed here is that it was suddenly like he's saying the CFL is hot garbage. And I'm like: 'I've never said that once,'" Willson said.
“What I'm saying is that the games need to be reported on honestly. This is a pro league, these are pro players, we should be professional in the media, and we should call it how we see it — I don't think that's that crazy of a take.”
Willson was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round, 158th overall during the 2023 NFL Draft and played eight seasons in the NFL. The 35-year-old believes professional players are OK with the truth being reported and analyzed.
“I think this is what got a bit strange, people are like: 'You're taking shots at the players.' And I'm like, 'We played a ton of bad football games in Seattle, offensively.' You got a job, if we played like junk, you can say it. We're the first people to know, I don't think the boys really care. That's where this whole thing took a mind of its own.”
Willson’s Friday night visit to Saskatchewan, which extended into Saturday thanks to the smoke delay, was his first to the Queen City and Mosaic Stadium. It was an experience he thoroughly enjoyed.
“This is how a stadium should feel, it's very clean, it's very nice. The people here are very passionate, this is what I've been waiting for. I've been on Twitter being like: 'If we could get four to five fan bases like this, this league takes off.' I know there's a deep history here in Saskatchewan, but we should at least try in other places. We can't just say: 'Well, Winnipeg and Saskatchewan are the only two people that care.' We should at least make an effort," Willson said.
“The CFL has such a great opportunity right now to grow and take this thing to the next level and I don't think it's going to take much. People love football. People love football across North America. It's like you poke the bear a little bit and I think this thing will take off.”
Willson pointed out that there needs to be a focus on building excitement in Toronto.
“There's more support in this small room for the Riders than there is on game days, pretty much, at BMO in Toronto," Willson said. "I went to the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon and I'd never been to Saskatchewan. Scott Flory, their coach — what a legend — was talking about they have seven-man ball here, nine-man ball here, the grassroots level. I'm like: if Saskatchewan can do that, this could be an avenue where I open a few people's eyes.”
