The Toronto Argonauts have announced that, in partnership with the Toronto Argonauts Alumni Association, quarterback Ricky Ray will be added to the All-Time Argos list in 2024.
The All-Time Argonauts program began in 1997 as a way to honor the greatest players to don the Double Blue. The list has added 26 members since its founding with Damon Allen and Derrel Mitchell being the most recent additions.
“It was indeed astonishing to me that someone so quiet could make so much noise on the field” said Argonauts general manager Michael Clemons to the Argonauts media team. “Ricky Ray’s records and multiple Grey Cup rings say more than he ever would! The enormity of his excellence is complemented by his uncommon modesty, quiet confidence, and unquestionable character. He is among the best to have ever dressed in the Double Blue and his induction into the list of All-Time Argos is quite frankly overdue!”
According to Stacey Coray, president of the Argonauts Alumni Association, the vote for Ray was nearly unanimous among members who make the choice of who joins the ranks of the greatest players in team history.
It was late 2011 when Ray was traded to the Argonauts from Edmonton. Ray played 79 regular season games in Toronto between 2012 and 2018 and he led the team to two Grey Cup victories, once in his first season and again in a snowy Grey Cup in 2017 against the Redblacks.
Ray set multiple team records including the most touchdown passes (114), passing yards (20,205), pass attempts (2,476) pass completions (1,757) and an impressive completion rate of 71 per cent. Ray also holds Argonaut records for 13 300-yard passing games in a single season as well as the most completions in a season with 474. His 40 completions in a single game and 21 consecutive completions are also franchise records.
Ray was an all-time great in Edmonton as well between 2002 and 2011. He suited up for 156 games in Edmonton during which he won 2 Grey Cups in 2003 and 2005. Ray is top of the list in most major stat categories in Edmonton where he has the most career passes (4,827), completions (3,225), passing yards (40,531), passing yards in a season (5,663), touchdown passes (210), and is tied with Warren Moon for the most passing touchdowns in a season (36) and in a game (5).
Ricky Ray is fourth all-time in passing yards with 60,736 and fifth all-time in touchdowns with 324. He has led the league in passing yards four times and once led the league in passing touchdowns.
Ricky Ray, who was inducted into the Canadian Football hall of Fame in 2022, is the only player in CFL history to hold franchise records in all the major passing categories for two different teams.
A celebration of Ray’s induction will take place at BMO Field on June 28th when the Argonauts host the Montreal Alouettes.
