This past offseason, Nick Arbuckle was weeks away from canceling his Canadian work permit and returning home to the United States.

The 31-year-old quarterback entered free agency in February and was unsigned until May before the Toronto Argonauts arrived.

After totaling 252 yards with two touchdowns against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sunday, Arbuckle was named MVP of the 111th Gray Cup, leading the Argos to a 41-24 victory.

The Oxnard, Calif. native signed with Toronto for his second stint with the team following Chad Kelly’s nine-game suspension, giving the team’s quarterback some much-needed stability ahead of the first regular season game.

Arbuckle only got one start before Kelly returned to the lineup in Week 12, and did not return to play under center until Week 21, when Toronto rested its starters after having already clinched a playoff spot.

His next opportunity to see the field would come in the East Division final, with Kelly going down with a fractured tibia and fibula late in the third quarter.

In relief of Kelly, Arbuckle completed 5 of 8 attempts for 73 yards and helped Toronto hold on to advance to the 111th Gray Cup in what would be the biggest start of his career.
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“A few moments before the game against Montreal, that morning, I was having lunch with my agent,” said Arbuckle, on TSN1050 Tuesday morning. “We kind of talked about the future of my playing career… not a lot of certainty, but maybe a little bit of hope with some of the games I played earlier in the season.

“Four, five hours later, all the plans we were making, or that I was making, have changed a lot.”

Although Arbuckle didn’t anticipate the transition from free agent battling for contract offers to Gray Cup MVP, the six-year CFL veteran managed to stay ready and capitalize on an opportunity that he never saw it coming.

“I think what I’ve learned over time is that my plan and my ideas don’t mean much, you just have to take things as they come and take advantage of the moments and opportunities that show up,” he said. “The things I can imagine are nowhere near as good as the things that can actually happen. »

Arbuckle returns to Toronto a hero for his efforts in helping the Double Blue win their 19th Gray Cup title in franchise history, and will be able to enjoy the fruits of his labor at the team’s championship rally on Tuesday afternoon.