Canadian Football League commissioner Stewart Johnston was at the 60th Labour Day Classic in Regina.
Johnston explored several topics during the 620 CKRM Co-operators Rider Broadcast Network’s Countdown to Kickoff. Johnston discussed the Toronto Argonauts decision to play home games in other CFL cities next season, the league’s statistics issues and Genius Sports.
During the conversation, Riders analyst Wes Cates asked Johnston about his reaction to TSN analyst Luke Willson's online commentary.
Willson, a Super Bowl Champion with the Seattle Seahawks, made waves in the offseason when he proclaimed himself the “people’s commissioner” and shared several personal proposals for making 2025 the “year of the CFL.”
The Windsor, Ontario native’s presence grew online while he feuded with fans and CFL media members to the point where he referred to those with opposing opinions as “numpties.”
Rider Nation’s collective eyebrow was raised when Willson deemed a Week 3 game between Saskatchewan and Toronto which ended on a Mario Alford kick return touchdown as “hot garbage.”
Cryptic tweets and since-deleted posts suggest Willson has sometimes pushed the envelope further than his employers at TSN would like. Willson implied some members of the CFL and its board of governors were utilizing connections within TSN to silence him.
Johnston doesn’t see it that way or believe that Willson’s comments need to be muted.
“On social media, sometimes you walk the line. I have no problem with anyone having an opinion and expressing opinions. Sometimes I’d prefer different language when they do express that opinion, but that’s fine.”
“I want people talking about the CFL and it comes from a place of passion. As long as we’re doing it with respect, I really enjoy it,” Johnston added.
Defined numpties claim Willson hasn’t always demonstrated a requisite level of respect, but you can’t deny the level of conversation that he has created around the league, by regularly stirring the pot and tweeting to his over 146,900 followers.
Aside from the commentary, Johnston has been impressed with Willson’s ability to analyze the game and communicate that to the CFL audience.
“I come from a background working at TSN, so I’ve known Luke for a long time. I think that he developed from his first time on TSN airwaves as an NFL broadcaster or commentator to where he was the last NFL season — I think he’s one of the best I’ve seen.”
The first-year commissioner, Johnston, is a fan of Willson on TSN’s Friday Night Football.
“He really is a great X’s and O’s analyst, but he breaks it down in a way that I think the audiences really appreciate. He’s very relatable and I think that comes across in his sideline work, which brings another element to the game. The way he’s analyzing the game is fantastic and it brings a real football perspective, an X’s and O’s perspective, from field level.”
You can hear the entire conversation at SportsCage.com.
