2002 Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton hosts and plays in the 90th Grey Cup. Tom Higgins squad would book their ticket to the big game after a first-place finish in the West with a record of 13-5 and defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 33-30 in the West Final. The Eskimos would fall in the Grey Cup to the Montreal Alouettes by a score of 25-16 at Commonwealth Stadium.
During the season rookie backup quarterback Ricky Ray would take over for an injured Jason Maas and would record a 63.2 completion percentage, to go along with 2,991 yards passing and 24 touchdowns. Ray would become the only quarterback in the club’s history to start a Grey Cup game for the team in Commonwealth Stadium.
Running back John Avery had 17 carries for 144 yards against the Blue Bombers in the West final before getting injured in the third quarter. He would run for a team-best 1,448 yards and add nine touchdowns in the regular season.
Elfrid Payton wins the Most Outstanding Defensive player award after recording 48 tackles and 16 sacks.
Terry Vaughn sets a league record with his eighth consecutive 1000+ yards receiving season.
Hugh Campbell is awarded the Commissioner’s Award and Henry “Gizmo” Williams is added to the Wall of Honour.
| 2002 (54th season) |
| Record: 13-5 (1st West) |
| Home: 8-1 | Away: 5-4 |
| Playoffs: 1-1 | Lost Grey Cup |
| Head coach: Tom Higgins (2nd season) |
| CFL All-Stars:John Avery, Sean Fleming, Elfrid Payton, Jason Tucker, Terry Vaughn |
| West All-Stars: John Avery, Bruce Beaton, Sean Fleming, Elfrid Payton, Jason Tucker, Terry Vaughn |
| Hall of Fame: |
| Major award winners: Elfrid Payton (Most Outstanding Defensive player) |
| Wall of Honour: Henry “Gizmo” Williams |
| Date | Opponent | Result (record) |
| June 28 | at Calgary Stampeders | W 27–21 (1-0) |
| July 4 | vs. Ottawa Renegades | W 24–40 (2-0) |
| July 13 | vs. Toronto Argonauts | W 17–31 (3-0) |
| July 19 | at Saskatchewan Roughriders | L 11–45 (3-1) |
| July 26 | vs. BC Lions | W 27–37 (4-1) |
| August 2 | at Montreal Alouettes | L 14–37 (4-2) |
| August 7 | vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats | W 5–33 (5-2) |
| August 15 | vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers | W 32–35 (6-2) |
| August 23 | at Toronto Argonauts | W 30–7 (7-2) |
| September 2 | at Calgary Stampeders | W 28–20 (8-2) |
| September 6 | vs. Calgary Stampeders | W 11–45 (9-2) |
| September 13 | at BC Lions | L 18–23 (9-3) |
| September 21 | vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders | W 25–31 (10-3) |
| September 29 | at Hamilton Tiger-Cats | W 34–33 (11-3) |
| October 6 | at Ottawa Renegades | W 37–34 (12-3) |
| October 14 | vs. Montreal Alouettes | L 48–30 (12-4) |
| October 25 | vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders | W 21–27 (13-4) |
| November 2 | at Winnipeg Blue Bombers | L 8–20 (13-5) |
| November 17 | vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers | W 30–33 Division Final |
| November 24 | vs. Montreal Alouettes | L 25–16 Grey Cup |