CFL Commissioner Stuart Johnston appeared on The Rod Pedersen Show on September 25th, 2025, to address the reaction to recent rule changes announced by the league. The interview covered Johnston’s reasoning behind the changes, his response to fan criticism, and what comes next for the CFL.

Johnston discussed his expectations for increased scoring, the passion of CFL fans, and future plans for the league beyond rule modifications.

On Anticipating Fan Reaction to Rule Changes

Johnston knew the announcement would generate strong reactions from the CFL fanbase. The commissioner and his team spent months preparing for the moment when these changes would go public.

“We knew these were very significant changes. So without a doubt, we expected a reaction. And in the months of work that led to Monday, I’d say that the circle that was working on it, and then in talking with the clubs and so forth, reaction actually mirrored a lot of what we see, which is, wow, it’s hard to digest. These are significant. And then when we walk through the logic and walk through why we’re doing it to expose this great Canadian game of ours in the best possible way, it actually turned more to excitement.”

Johnston’s comments show the league knew these changes would create pushback. The internal process revealed that initial shock often gave way to understanding once people heard the reasoning. This pattern repeated itself when the changes became public, with fans needing time to process the scale of what was announced.

On How Rule Changes Will Increase Scoring

The commissioner explained his belief that the rule changes will lead to more touchdowns and open up offensive possibilities across the field.

“I think that the most highlight-worthy plays in the sport of football are touch downs, and this is going to create more more touch downs. It’s going to create more opportunity to pass over the middle. It’s going to allow offenses who are pinned deep to actually roam and go wherever they would like instead of being blocked out of the far side of the field and being forced to stick to the short side of the field. And when we get more touch downs, and yes, it will be fewer field goals. That trade-off works for us from an entertainment perspective, we think, in stadium, on broadcast, and through social.”

Johnston connected the rule changes directly to entertainment value. The focus on touchdowns over field goals represents a deliberate choice about what makes football exciting to watch. By removing field position restrictions that forced teams to the short side, offenses gain freedom to attack the entire field, which should produce more scoring plays. Strategy for coaches change but will it translate into views and fans in seats is the real question. Scoring is not a issue in the CFL.

On Understanding CFL Fan Psychology

Johnston spoke about his personal experience as a lifelong CFL fan and how that shaped his understanding of the reaction to changes.

“I think about my whole life as a CFL fan. There’s been many times, especially where I grew up in Ottawa, and here in the Toronto market, where I’ve been a defender, right? There’s conversations where you have to feel like you’re defending the CFL, and you’re defending how great it is, because you believe in it so much, but then there’s the naysayers. And I think I have built up scar tissue on that. So you have a quick reflex. If you think something is… Is someone attacking us? Is someone saying our game is not great? And it’s a trigger for me, and I think it might be for a lot of people who have to go through that.”

This quote reveals Johnston’s understanding of why fans reacted defensively. We know first hand at CFL News Hub how sensitive fans can be when it comes to their Canadian league. He acknowledged the protective instinct CFL fans develop after years of defending their league against critics.

The commissioner positioned himself as someone who shares that background rather than as an outsider making changes without understanding the emotional investment fans have in the game.

On What Won’t Change in the CFL

Johnston addressed concerns that the league was moving toward an Americanized version of football by making clear what rules will remain untouched.

I want to be as clear as I can, Rod, that nothing was done with the intention of Americanizing our game, and there is zero thought process to touching what I believe are the absolute critical rules of the Canadian Football League, three down, 65 yards, 12 players, motion, all of those that drive the excitement of our game. We just want to expose it the best we possibly can.”

Johnston drew a line between changes meant to showcase the game better and fundamental alterations to what makes Canadian football unique. The three-down format, field width, roster size, and motion rules remain protected. At the initial press conference releasing these rule changes he was less committal on the 3 downs, based on fan reaction since, in this instance he made it more clear.

On Future Plans Beyond Rule Changes

The commissioner revealed that the rule modifications represent just the first step in broader plans for the league’s growth.

“Just to be clear, this is only step one of how are we going to elevate our whole League? We’ve got big growth plans for our League. These rules were step one. And I want to be super, super clear about this. There are no other steps with rules. The other steps have to do with our business, and we’re excited about what we can bring to bear there.”

Johnston’s comments indicate the CFL has additional announcements planned that focus on business operations rather than on-field play. By stating no further rule changes are coming, he attempted to stop speculation about continued modifications to the game itself. The emphasis shifts to business development and league growth initiatives that will roll out between now and after Grey Cup.

Looking Ahead

Stuart Johnston’s appearance on The Rod Pedersen Show provided insight into the CFL’s decision-making process and future direction. The commissioner acknowledged fan concerns while defending the logic behind changes designed to increase scoring and entertainment value. Johnston made clear that no additional rule modifications are planned, with future announcements focusing on business growth. Fans interested in the full conversation can find The Rod Pedersen Show through its regular broadcast channels and online platforms.