The 1991 Toronto Argonauts season was the 102nd season for the team since the franchise's inception in 1873. The team finished in first place in the East Division with a 13âÂÂ5 record and qualified for the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year. The Argonauts defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Eastern Final and qualified for the 79th Grey Cup. Toronto defeated the Calgary Stampeders in a rematch of the 1971 Grey Cup, winning their 12th Grey Cup championship by a score of 36âÂÂ21.
In February 1991, the Argonauts were purchased by Bruce McNall, Wayne Gretzky and John Candy. In April 1991, the Argonauts signed Raghib Ismail to a four-year contract worth 18 million dollars. The Ismail signing included four million dollars upfront. Technically, Ismail was only being paid $110,000 a season to play football. The rest was a personal services contract with the intention that Ismail would become an ambassador for Canadian football. Ismail would have 64 receptions, 1,300 receiving yards, and 9 touchdowns.
Matt Dunigan became the Argonauts new quarterback. Dunigan would miss 10 out of 18 regular season games due to injury. The injuries included a pulled groin, pulled hamstring, and pulled calf muscle. In the Eastern final, Dunigan would break his collarbone in two places before halftime. The Argonauts attendance improved from 30,500 to 37,120 fans per game. Despite winning the Grey Cup and the increase in attendance, the Argonauts lost three million dollars.
Toronto Argonauts (36) â TDs, Ed Berry, Darrell K. Smith, Raghib "Rocket" Ismail, Paul Masotti; FGs Lance Chomyc (2); cons., Chomyc (4); singles Chomyc (2).
Calgary Stampeders (21) â TDs, Danny Barrett, Allen Pitts; FGs, Mark McLoughlin (2); cons., McLoughlin (2); single. McLoughlin.
First Quarter<br/> TOR â TD Berry 50 yard interception return (Chomyc convert)<br /> CGY â TD Barrett 1 yard run (McLoughlin convert)<br /> TOR â Single by Chomyc
Second Quarter<br/> TOR â FG Chomyc<br /> CGY â FG McLoughlin
Third Quarter<br /> CGY â Single McLoughlin<br /> TOR â Single Chomyc<br /> CGY â FG McLoughlin<br /> TOR â TD Smith 48 yard pass from Dunigan (Chomyc convert)
Fourth Quarter<br/> TOR â FG Chomyc<br /> CGY â TD Pitts 12 yard pass from Barrett (McLoughlin convert)<br /> TOR â TD Ismail 87 yard kickoff return (Chomyc convert)<br /> TOR â TD Masotti 36 yard pass from Dunigan (Chomyc convert)