Argonauts enter training camp looking to reset after an off-season of change

The Toronto Argonauts enter training camp with a different look and feel as the organization attempts to reset following an off-season that saw a lot of changes.

After a disappointing 2025 campaign that led to turnover across the coaching staff and football operations department, the Argonauts begin a new era under first-year head coach Mike Miller while trying to re-establish themselves as Grey Cup contenders in 2026.

The transition started shortly after the season ended when head coach Ryan Dinwiddie departed the organization, leading Toronto to elevate Miller into the top role while also restructuring parts of its football operations group.

General manager Michael 'Pinball' Clemons said the organization prioritized surrounding Miller with experienced voices to help guide the transition.

“With a first-time head coach, we want to make sure that we surrounded him with all the support,” Clemons said during the CFL Winter Meetings. “We thought it was important that he had all the support that he could possibly need.”

That support came in the form of veteran football executives John Hufnagel and Jim Barker joining the organization, additions the Argonauts hope will help stabilize a team looking to rebound from an uneven season both on and off the field.

While much of the attention entering camp will focus on the coaching overhaul, the biggest boost for Toronto could come from the expected return of quarterback Chad Kelly. After missing significant time due to injury last season, Miller said the organization expects Kelly to be fully ready for camp.

“We have no reason to believe that he will not be ready for training camp and be 100 per cent,” Miller said. “Chad works extremely hard.”

Miller added that Kelly remained heavily involved with the team throughout his rehab process despite being unable to contribute on the field.

“He was very present in the meetings,” Miller said. “He loves this organization, he loves his teammates, and I know he’s excited to get back out there for 2026.”

The Argonauts will also see their time at the University of Guelph extended beyond training camp with the 2026 FIFA World Cup delaying their return to later in the summer.

Despite the unusual setup, Miller believes the environment can help establish the culture the organization is trying to build during this transitional season.

“They’ve got an excellent facility,” Miller said. “The field is nice, the weight room facility is really good, the training facilities are really good. We’re excited.”

Toronto’s off-season changes also extended to the coaching staff, where Miller assembled a group blending CFL experience with coaches from the American ranks. He said finding strong teachers and communicators was central to the process.

“I was really happy how that all blended together,” Miller said.

The Argonauts still have several unanswered questions entering camp, with some players from past Grey Cup teams returning but also losing a big part of its defence in linebacker Wynton McManis.

For an organization that has experienced significant success in recent years, the focus entering 2026 is less about dwelling on what went wrong last season and more about establishing a fresh foundation moving forward.

“We’ve got to focus on trying to do what we need to do for the Argonauts moving into 2026 right now,” Miller said.