Veteran kicker Hajrullahu making clutch contribution for Toronto Argonauts

TORONTO — In the roller-coaster that’s been the Toronto Argonauts’ 2025 season, kicker Lirim Hajrullahu has been one of the club’s few constants.

Hajrullahu, 35, has been a key figure for Toronto over its last two games. On Friday night, his 48-yard field goal with no time remaining earned the Argos a 31-30 comeback win over the Edmonton Elks.

On Sept. 1, it was Hajrullahu’s 11-yard boot on the game’s final play that gave Toronto a 35-33 Labour Day victory over Hamilton.

Toronto (5-8) has won three straight to trail second-place Montreal (6-7) in the East Division standings. The two teams meet Friday night at BMO Field.

Predictably, the humble Hajrullahu — pronounced HIGH-roo-LAH-hoo — praised his teammates’ efforts for his late heroics.

“I’m just very happy my team keeps putting me in position where I can succeed,” he said. “… the guys around me make my job easy.

“I find I have an easiest job compared to them.”

Toronto earned the victory despite falling behind 14-0 in the first half, and entering halftime trailing 14-3 on Hajrullahu’s 53-yard field goal to end the second quarter. The Argos surged ahead 28-27 on Andrew Chatfield Jr.’s 10-yard fumble return touchdown in the fourth but Vincent Blanchard’s 31-yard field goal with 1:14 remaining put Edmonton back ahead 30-28.

Hajrullahu’s game-winning boot wasn’t the only late drama for Toronto. Backup quarterback Jarret Doege engineered the Argos’ final 40-yard, eight-play drive with Nick Arbuckle (calf) hurt.

Doege took Toronto to Edmonton’s 41-yard line to set up Hajrullahu’s final attempt, something the veteran kicker was anticipating.

“The way the game was going, all game long I knew it was going to come down to that,” he said. “I’ve had enough experience by now that I love it.

“This is what makes me really enjoy the game and keep loving the game. We have field goals throughout but when it comes down to the final kick, it just makes me really happy to be able to make all of these guys around me happy by doing my job. I’m very appreciative of my position and where I am.”

The five-foot-11, 205-pound Hajrullahu is enjoying yet another stellar CFL campaign. He has made 37-of-41 field goals (90.2 per cent) and 28-of-29 converts (league-best 96.6 per cent).

Hajrullahu has been especially good from 50-plus yards (four of five, long of 56 yards) while also handling kickoffs (63.6-yard average).

“Lirim is pretty clutch,” Toronto head coach Ryan Dinwiddie said. “Guys have confidence that we just have to get the ball across midfield and he’s going to have a good chance to knock it through.

“I’ll also say there’s been many games where we’ve gone for the long field goal before the half trusting him that he could hit it instead of potentially giving up a big return before halftime. Having the confidence to make that decision is huge for me.”

Hajrullahu is coming off a stellar 2024 when he set career highs in field goals made (55), attempts (61) and percentage (90.2) while making 35-of-37 converts. The former Western Mustang ended his season making all four field goals he tried in Toronto’s 41-24 Grey Cup win over Winnipeg.

There are few positions in pro football under as much scrutiny as kicker. A team’s fate in a game, even its playoff hopes, can often be determined by one leg swing.

Many also become football nomads, playing for multiple teams. Hajrullahu, in his 12th pro season and eighth in Canada, knows that all too well.

Hajrullahu is in his second stint with Toronto while also having played with Winnipeg (2014-15) and Hamilton (2018-19). He has appeared in three Grey Cups, winning twice with the Argos (2017, ’24).

Hajrullahu returned to Toronto last season following NFL stints with the Los Angeles Rams, Carolina Panthers, Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys (2020-22). He appeared in four games, making four-of-five field goals and all eight converts while recording 17 kickoffs, before signing with the then-USFL’s Philadelphia Stars in 2023.

Hajrullahu still feels butterflies when he steps on to the field with a game on the line. But experience and preparation have taught him to trust the process and embrace those opportunities.

“We’ve done this enough times that now it’s staying focused and understanding and just staying on top of how we can prepare for these types of moments,” he said. “There’s always a little bit of butterflies but those are the fun and good butterflies that keep me more a little bit more focused.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2025.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press