Cody Fajardo Makes an Unexpected Statement About the Alouettes

Cody Fajardo would have every reason to seek revenge. After being benched by the Montreal Alouettes in favor of Davis Alexander—now the CFL's Most Valuable Player—the Edmonton Elks quarterback will face his former team on Sunday, with the Grey Cup on the line.

The 34-year-old veteran knows that the idea of a rematch will follow him all week in Calgary. But that's not the story he wants to tell.

“I have nothing but the utmost respect for that organization. I won there. It's thanks to them that I can call myself a champion,” he said. In 2023, he led the Alouettes to the Grey Cup.

He's also unequivocal about the choice of Alexander:

“Clearly, they made an excellent choice. They have the league's Most Valuable Player, a guy who's playing in his second Grey Cup in a row.”

A message that moved him

The admiration is mutual. Earlier this season, Alexander sent him a long message thanking him for taking him under his wing when he was his backup.

“He was like a coach to me, never hesitating to share his knowledge. I'm so grateful to him,” Alexander said.

Fajardo was touched. “When I read it, I was moved. You never know what kind of influence you can have on other people's lives unless they tell you,” he said.

A Year After Thinking About Retirement

Last year, Fajardo was considering retirement. He had watched the Grey Cup on TV with his wife.

“After the game, she told me, ‘You can go back to the Grey Cup.' That was all I needed to hear.”

After his trade to Edmonton, he reportedly accepted a significant pay cut, according to media reports. The gamble paid off: he led the Elks to a 13-5 record, their first playoff appearance in seven years, and their first championship game since 2015.