EDMONTON, AB – The Edmonton Elks officially crossed the biggest item off their off-season to-do list today, announcing they have signed veteran quarterback Cody Fajardo to a one-year contract extension, keeping the Grey Cup champion in Green and Gold through the 2026 season. The move provides crucial stability for the Elks at quarterback after Fajardo's …
EDMONTON, AB – The Edmonton Elks officially crossed the biggest item off their off-season to-do list today, announcing they have signed veteran quarterback Cody Fajardo to a one-year contract extension, keeping the Grey Cup champion in Green and Gold through the 2026 season.
The move provides crucial stability for the Elks at quarterback after Fajardo’s steady hand helped steer the team out of its disastrous start last year.
While the Elks ultimately came up short of the playoffs with a 7-11 record, the impact Fajardo made could not be denied. After taking over full-time starting duties in Week 8, he helped put the team into a rhythm, piling up six wins in the final two-thirds of the season and keeping the playoff hunt alive well into the bitter end. The nine-year CFL veteran brought the efficient, high-percentage passing he’s known for in his 13 starts: He finished the 2025 season completing 73.2% of his passes, a completion rate that ranked second-best in the whole league. He amassed 3,408 passing yards with 14 touchdowns against a remarkably low seven interceptions. The dual-threat pivot wasn’t afraid to tuck it and run, adding 319 rushing yards and an impressive seven rushing touchdowns. His 21 total touchdowns were the most since the 2022 season.
His accuracy wasn’t only on a season-long basis, as in one instance in Week 15 against Toronto, Fajardo tied the Elks franchise record for consecutive completions with 22, which was indicative of his poise and command of the offence.
To GM Ed Hervey, signing Fajardo wasn’t just about securing a quarterback; it was about confirming a foundation for success. The one-year term is an expected piece of business, giving the team a dependable starter with championship experience while maintaining flexibility for the future.
“Cody Fajardo’s contract extension reflects our commitment to stability and progress for this team in what promises to be an exciting and promising 2026 season,” Hervey said in a release announcing the extension. The stability that this brings is solid, but Hervey’s got some work to do to get the Green and Gold to the playoffs.
Fajardo, the 2023 Grey Cup MVP for the Montreal Alouettes, was every bit as excited to be back in the Alberta capital. “I’m excited to be re-signing in Edmonton, and I’m ready to continue the incredible momentum we built to finish last season,” Fajardo said. “I’m motivated to be the quarterback that helps lead this team back to the postseason, and believe we came to a deal that makes me feel valued and will provide the club with the flexibility to build a competitive roster.”
“I’m proud to be part of this organization, proud of what we’re building here, and I’m looking forward to another great year with the Green and Gold.”
The other interesting thing that the Elks have to look at is backup quarterback Trey Ford, who signed a big contract last season to be the starter of the Elks. That unfortunately didn’t work out as Cody came in after the early-season struggle and did a great job, and now they’re going to have to look to offload his contract as he has a lot of potential but is being paid a lot, which has some salary implications. In the CFL, having two quarterbacks is a huge thing, so especially with an older veteran like Cody, you’re going to need someone who can come in and be reliable as a backup.
The Green and Gold faithful will be counting on their veteran signal-caller to turn a strong second-half finish into a full playoff campaign in 2026.
