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Wide receiver Austin Mack is enjoying the best season of his professional career with the Edmonton Elks, and much of the credit goes to his reunion with quarterback Cody Fajardo. Through 16 games in his first Edmonton season, Mack has set personal career highs with 79 catches, 1,229 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. His previous best numbers came in 2023 with the Montreal Alouettes, where he posted 78 receptions, 1,154 yards and four touchdowns — also alongside Fajardo.
Fajardo Called Every Day Until Mack Signed
When Montreal released Mack on January 26, Fajardo acted immediately. The veteran quarterback called his former teammate every single day until Mack agreed to sign a two-year deal with Edmonton, just three days after his release.
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“It’s funny because Cody never calls anybody in the off-season because he’s with his family,” Mack said. “But he called me every single day until I signed.” Mack added that the decision involved careful thought and input from his family. “I think had I gone anywhere else our friendship would’ve probably ended,” he said, “and it’s a good thing we didn’t have to go down that road.”
Fajardo, for his part, made no apologies for his persistence. “There was a reason why I called him 360 times to try and get him here,” the 34-year-old quarterback said. “I just know how good he is and how good he was for me in Montreal. Everything I thought he’d do here he has done and exceeded.”
Elks Clinch Playoff Spot and Eye West Final Home Game
Edmonton’s strong season has translated into results across the board. The Elks currently hold a 12-4 record and secured a home playoff berth with a 27-12 road win in Hamilton on Friday. That victory marked their sixth win in seven games. Edmonton will return to the CFL playoffs for the first time since 2019 and will host a post-season game for the first time since 2015.
If Edmonton splits its final two regular-season games — Friday against Winnipeg and October 24 at Saskatchewan — the team will finish first in the West Division and host the division final on November 7. The Elks are already 6-2 within the West, including a 2-0 series record against Winnipeg and a 1-1 mark against Saskatchewan.
The last time Edmonton hosted a West final was 2015, when the Elks defeated Calgary 45-31 before going on to beat Ottawa 26-20 in the Grey Cup. That remains the franchise’s most recent CFL championship.
A Rebuilt Roster Built to Win
Mack’s individual success is also a product of a broader team rebuild. General manager Ed Hervey worked aggressively to strengthen the roster after Edmonton finished 7-11 last season and placed fifth in the West. Before free agency, Hervey extended veterans including defensive lineman Robbie Smith, defensive back Tyrell Ford and running back Justin Rankin. He also convinced Fajardo to delay retirement in December.
In free agency, Hervey added offensive linemen Coulter Woodmansey, Brendan Bordner and Jordan Murray, along with receivers Brendan O’Leary-Orange and Joe Robustelli and defensive lineman Malik Carney. Mack also joined during that period. In addition, Mack has benefited from staying healthy all season and fitting well into offensive coordinator Jordan Maksymic’s system.
“This locker room has a lot of great guys who want to win, who want to sacrifice,” Mack said. “It’s a lot of team guys and you need that in this league.”
Mack Eyes a Deep Playoff Run
Mack finished his 2025 season with Montreal in their 25-17 Grey Cup loss to Saskatchewan. However, he sees a different opportunity now in Edmonton. He believes the Fajardo connection becomes even more valuable as the weather turns and the stakes rise in late October and November.
“Everyone says Canada is cold, and it can be,” Mack said, “but the best part about playing football in the cold is you’re playing in meaningful games.” He added that contributing to a more explosive offence was a key reason he chose Edmonton. “I believe that’s what I’ve done this year,” he said.
Mack also expressed hope that Edmonton could secure the West final home game and draw a massive crowd. “If we could, that would be amazing and I’d hope we’d see 60,000 people in Commonwealth,” he said. First, though, the Elks must close out the regular season with focus. “We’ve still got to make sure we secure it,” Mack said, “and that’s our biggest focus.”
