[1] The team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2018 following a week 14 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders on November 5, 2021.

[3] This would have been the first season under head coach Scott Milanovich, but he resigned from his position on January 25, 2021.

[6][7] On June 15, 2021, the league released the revised 14-game schedule with regular season play beginning on August 5, 2021.

[12][13] Due to the shortening of the season, the CFL confirmed that pre-season games would not be played in 2021.

[8] [14] The Elks initially had a schedule that featured 18 regular season games beginning on June 12 and ending on October 30.