The 1973 CFL season is considered to be the 20th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 16th Canadian Football League season.

CFL news in 1973 Both the Western and Eastern Conferences adopt the same playoff procedure, consisting of the second place teams in each conference hosting the third place teams in the conference semifinal games and the first place teams hosting the semi-finals' winners in the conference finals. All rounds now consisted of single-game playoffs, as opposed to a two-game total point series (although this format would return in use by what was by then the East Division in 1986 only); the West adopted this format the previous year. Other than the addition of the crossover rule in 1997, this playoff format is in still in use in the CFL.

This was the final season where the conferences would play seasons of different lengths. The Eastern Conference would expand its schedule to sixteen games for 1974. Somewhat ironically, this was also the most recent season (as of 2017) where a fourth-placed Eastern team would earn more points (despite playing fewer games) than the third placed Western team - the scenario which triggers a "crossover" under the current playoff format.

Regular season standings

Edmonton and Ottawa have first round byes.

Grey Cup playoffs

The Ottawa Rough Riders are the 1973 Grey Cup champions, defeating the Edmonton Eskimos, 22–18, at Toronto's Exhibition Stadium. Ottawa's Charlie Brandon (DE) was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player, while Edmonton's Garry Lefebvre (DB) was named Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian.

Playoff bracket

*-Team won in Overtime.

CFL leaders CFL passing leaders CFL rushing leaders CFL receiving leaders

1973 CFL All-Stars

Offence QB – Ron Lancaster, Saskatchewan Roughriders RB – George Reed, Saskatchewan Roughriders RB – Roy Bell, Edmonton Eskimos RB – John Harvey, Montreal Alouettes TE – Peter Dalla Riva, Montreal Alouettes WR – George McGowan, Edmonton Eskimos WR – Johnny Rodgers, Montreal Alouettes C – Paul Desjardins, Toronto Argonauts OG – Jack Abendschan, Saskatchewan Roughriders OG – Ed George, Montreal Alouettes OT – Bill Frank, Winnipeg Blue Bombers OT – Charlie Turner, Edmonton Eskimos

Defence DT – John Helton, Calgary Stampeders DT – Rudy Sims, Ottawa Rough Riders DE – Bill Baker, Saskatchewan Roughriders DE – Jim Corrigall, Toronto Argonauts LB – Jerry Campbell, Ottawa Rough Riders LB – Ray Nettles, BC Lions LB – Mike Widger, Montreal Alouettes DB – Lorne Richardson, Saskatchewan Roughriders DB – Larry Highbaugh, Edmonton Eskimos DB – Al Marcelin, Ottawa Rough Riders DB – Lewis Porter, Hamilton Tiger-Cats DB – Dick Adams, Ottawa Rough Riders

1973 Eastern All-Stars

Offence QB – Joe Theismann, Toronto Argonauts RB – Jim Evenson, Ottawa Rough Riders RB – Andy Hopkins, Hamilton Tiger-Cats RB – John Harvey, Montreal Alouettes TE – Peter Dalla Riva, Montreal Alouettes WR – Eric Allen, Toronto Argonauts WR – Johnny Rodgers, Montreal Alouettes C – Paul Desjardins, Toronto Argonauts OG – Ed Chalupka, Hamilton Tiger-Cats OG – Ed George, Montreal Alouettes OT – Bill Danychuk, Hamilton Tiger-Cats OT – Dan Yochum, Montreal Alouettes

Defence DT – Gordon Judges, Montreal Alouettes DT – Rudy Sims, Ottawa Rough Riders DE – Carl Crennel, Montreal Alouettes DE – Jim Corrigall, Toronto Argonauts LB – Jerry Campbell, Ottawa Rough Riders LB – Gene Mack, Toronto Argonauts LB – Mike Widger, Montreal Alouettes DB – Tim Anderson, Toronto Argonauts DB – Dickie Harris, Montreal Alouettes DB – Al Marcelin, Ottawa Rough Riders DB – Lewis Porter, Hamilton Tiger-Cats DB – Dick Adams, Ottawa Rough Riders

1973 Western All-Stars

Offence QB – Ron Lancaster, Saskatchewan Roughriders RB – George Reed, Saskatchewan Roughriders RB – Roy Bell, Edmonton Eskimos RB – Johnny Musso, BC Lions TE – Lefty Hendrickson, BC Lions WR – George McGowan, Edmonton Eskimos WR – Tom Forzani, Calgary Stampeders C – Basil Bark, Calgary Stampeders C – Bob Howes, Edmonton Eskimos C – Bob Swift, Winnipeg Blue Bombers OG – Jack Abendschan, Saskatchewan Roughriders OG – Ralph Galloway, Saskatchewan Roughriders OT – Bill Frank, Winnipeg Blue Bombers OT – Charlie Turner, Edmonton Eskimos

Defence DT – John Helton, Calgary Stampeders DT – John LaGrone, Edmonton Eskimos DE – Bill Baker, Saskatchewan Roughriders DE – Ron Estay, Edmonton Eskimos LB – Sam Britts, Edmonton Eskimos LB – Ray Nettles, BC Lions LB – Roger Goree, Saskatchewan Roughriders DB – Lorne Richardson, Saskatchewan Roughriders DB – Larry Highbaugh, Edmonton Eskimos DB – Frank Andruski, Calgary Stampeders DB – Gene Lakusiak, Winnipeg Blue Bombers DB – Ted Provost, Saskatchewan Roughriders

1973 CFL awards CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – George McGowan (WR), Edmonton Eskimos CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Gerry Organ (K), Ottawa Rough Riders CFL's Most Outstanding Lineman Award – Ray Nettles (LB), BC Lions CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award – Johnny Rodgers (WR), Montreal Alouettes CFL's Coach of the Year – Jack Gotta, Ottawa Rough Riders Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy (Western Rookie of the Year) - Lorne Richardson (DB), Saskatchewan Roughriders DeMarco–Becket Memorial Trophy (Western Outstanding Lineman) - Ray Nettles (LB), BC Lions

References