Wynton McManis, aka “Mr. Great Business,” has done it again. The Toronto Argonauts star has signed a one-year deal worth $231,500 making him the highest paid linebacker in the CFL for the third straight year. This move locks him in as a defensive leader and raises the bar for future negotiations across the league.
How McManis Became the Highest Paid Linebacker?
McManis and his agent Christina Phillips played his contract extension right before the CFL free agent window opened. With multiple teams lining up to pursue him, the Argos had to up the offer.
“In a lot of ways I play the game to help raise the bar,” McManis said. “I think a lot of linebackers in this league deserve a payday. You could say we control the field, we’re all over the place, we’re like the quarterback on the other side of the ball.”
Why Linebackers Deserve More
McManis thinks linebackers bring so much to the game, they’re the heartbeat of the defence.
“A lot of guys in this league are worth big paydays and pushing that market,” he said. “Knowing what we bring to the league as far as fan bases and excitement to the game, expanding the trajectory of where we want the league to go and how we want to value our players.”
A three-time Grey Cup champion and two-time CFL all-star, McManis has proven himself on the field. His leadership and play have been the key to Toronto’s success recently, including their Grey Cup win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 111th Grey Cup.
Leadership Beyond the Numbers
With the Argonauts as defending champions heading into the 2025 season, McManis knows the pressure is on. He says it’s all about focus and raising the bar.
“You know what it takes to be great, what it takes to get the job done and achieve your goal—continue that, and it’ll never stop,” McManis said. “Once you’ve achieved it, you understand that it takes that, and now it takes even more.”
Despite losing defensive linemen like Ralph Holley, Folarin Orimolade, Jake Ceresna and Robbie Smith to other teams, McManis isn’t worried.
“I’m not nervous. I’m not scared a bit, honestly,” he said. “We’ve got some young guys. Jordan Williams is still here. Fresh legs, big body, great mobility, knows the game and wants to get better.”
Williams showed promise in his rookie season with 12 tackles and 2 sacks in 9 games, while Derek Parrish had 21 tackles and 6 sacks in 2024. Veteran signings like Bryan Cox Jr., Anthony Lanier, Celestin Haba and DeMarcus Christmas add to the defensive line.
Mentorship and Team Unity
McManis loves mentoring younger players and building a culture of growth within the team.
“It’s going to take everybody,” he said. “Guys coming in with the attitude I want to learn and I want to get better, I think that’s the biggest thing. I’m not going to hold back anything.”
He added, “Anything I have to teach, anything I have to give or say, I give that. Now it’s up to you to receive it. Year in and year out we’ve had guys come in that are willing to learn. It’s my job to make sure that keeps happening and we’ll do great.”
