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Toronto Argonauts have been the CFL’s unsung quarterback haven

By Trevor Popoff

Zach Collaros #17 of the Toronto Argonauts throws during CFL game action against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on July 11, 2013 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
Zach Collaros #17 of the Toronto Argonauts throws during CFL game action against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on July 11, 2013 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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Most teams can’t find more than one franchise quarterback. Over the past decade, the Toronto Argonauts have found six.

In football, some things are universally difficult. It’s hard to find that perfect coach. It’s hard to spread championship level talent evenly across a roster. It’s hard to find that kicker that can nail a 55-yard field goal. But perhaps most of all, it’s hard to find a franchise quarterback.

In today’s era of pass-centric football, the quarterback position is unquestionably the most important spot on the field. While other CFL teams have struggled to develop talent at QB, the Toronto Argonauts have pumped out multiple starting-level quarterbacks.

Of the eight CFL teams not named the Argos, three are currently fielding starting quarterbacks that cut their teeth in Toronto’s quarterback room. Add in the fact that the Argos arguably have two starting-caliber quarterbacks on their roster currently (and were captained by a future hall of famer in Ricky Ray from 2012-2018), and you get a quarterback ecosystem that has seen six bona fide starters roll through in the last 10 years. Check out the interactive maps below to see how the tentacles of Toronto’s QB room stretch across the country.

How to navigate

  • Click the football icon on each map to get started.
  • Using the + and – in the bottom left corner to zoom in and out, follow the lines from station to station.
  • Click on each marker for background on each pivot’s time in the shown city. Enjoy!

Cody Fajardo

Trevor Harris

Zach Collaros

McLeod Bethel-Thompson

This one comes with a warning. MBT’s career pathway stretches over two colleges and 13 professional stops. They’re all mapped on here, and if you’re really keen on exploring it go for it, but some points overlap due to Bethel-Thompson being signed a released by the San Francisco 49ers three separate times, and the Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins two separate times.

If you’d just like the major stops, start at the football and head straight for Toronto.

Next. What made the 1991 Grey Cup championship team special. dark

Do you think the Argos are one of the best quarterback factories in the last 10 years? Which quarterback was your favourite? Let us know in the comments below. 

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