Elks' Cody Fajardo’s relentless recruiting brings Austin Mack to Edmonton — and back to the Grey Cup

When the Montreal Alouettes released Austin Mack, Cody Fajardo relentlessly recruited him.

"I called him; I don't know what the call log was, but somewhere around 300 times in the off-season," the Edmonton Elks quarterback confessed.

Every single day, said Mack.

"The funny thing is Cody never talks to anybody in the off-season," Mack said. "He's this pure family guy. You know when Cody's calling you off-season, it's important."

The Elks signed the 29-year-old wide receiver to a two-year contract in January. Mack was a standout in his first year with a career-high and team-leading 1,254 receiving yards and nine touchdown catches.

Like his quarterback, Mack faces his former club in Sunday's Grey Cup game in Calgary.

Elks to face Alouettes in Grey Cup after beating Lions in West final

The six-foot-one, 208-pound wideout from Fort Wayne, Ind., will appear in a third CFL championship game in four years after winning it with Fajardo and the Alouettes in 2023. Mack contributed 103 receiving yards on six catches to that victory.

Montreal lost last year's Grey Cup game to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Regina, where just two balls were thrown Mack's way.

Like Fajardo, Mack's been asked multiple times during Grey Cup week if he sees Sunday as a chance to stick it to the club that cut him after three seasons.

"About the 100th time we got that question," Mack said Friday at McMahon Stadium.

"When you're removed, is there a little bit more motivation to be able to beat that person or that team? I mean, of course, you wouldn't want to beat any other team in my stance, but more than anything, I don't care. You're in the Grey Cup. Maximize this week, have no regrets and try to come out on top."

Edmonton Elks' Austin Mack tosses a ball