The Saskatchewan Roughriders cleaned out their lockers on Sunday at Mosaic Stadium following the team’s 38-22 loss to Winnipeg in the West Final. The Riders assembled pack up and say goodbyes as the franchise heads into the offseason.
With the loss fresh emotions were high for the team. From frustration to disbelief, sadness and acceptance there was a lot to digest inside the locker room. Those emotions will linger according to quarterback Trevor Harris.
“I honestly didn't think we'd be having this talk today. I felt like we'd be getting our bags packed to go to Vancouver. Unfortunately, we didn't get it done and it hurts.”
As the team conducted exit interviews with players, attention turns to roster construction for the 2025 season.
The 38-year-old Harris is a pending free agent, he was not focusing on that this season after missing most of the 2023 season with a tibial plateau fracture in his right knee.
“I promised myself before the season I wouldn't think about anything past this year until after this season, after the catastrophic injury I had last year,” Harris said. “I wanted to make sure that I came back and I was a tier-one quarterback for this organization that has given them a chance to compete for championships. If I wasn't able to do that, I knew that for a fact it'd be time to be done.”
Harris missed six games this season after spraining his MCL in Week 3. He returned to the line-up and lead the Riders to a 9-8-1 record and a chance to host the West Division Semi-Final prior to bowing out in the West Final.
“The start of something special happened this year and I think we can in the future look back to this year and say we set a lot of building blocks and foundation for something truly amazing in Rider Nation.”
The Riders and Harris have to evaluate how they move forward. Harris says that evaluation starts with him.
“The process starts now, ‘Does this organization have a chance if I'm here?’ If the answer is no, I don't want to be here because I care about this organization way too darn much. They deserve top tier everything and if I'm not that, I should walk away and I will.”
Rookie head coach Corey Mace was grateful for what his veteran quarterback brought this year.
“I would advise anybody who's looking to become a head coach for the first time to have Trevor Harris as your quarterback,” Mace said.
“What he's been able to provide for myself as a first-time coach, the leadership he provides in the room, what he was able to do to help the transition of [Marc] Mueller being a first-time play caller, excellent man. Extremely grateful for Trevor and everything that he's brought to this team.”
Harris believes that he is physically and mentally good to return for a 13th CFL season but respects the decision is not his alone.
“That's something that I think they have to answer and I have to speak with my family about. I'm not 28, I'm a decade later than that,” Harris said.
“I don't feel like I've physically deteriorated, [not returning] wouldn't be because my physical deterioration. It's on them, they'll make a sound decision and they're really smart people — whatever they decide is awesome.”
Harris led the league in 2024 with a 108.4 QB rating. Mace said that potential from his pivot was something that excited him about taking the job in Riderville.
“It was really a heavy reason why I thought this job was going to be awesome. It was everything I'd heard about the guy was exciting. I got here and I found out what I heard was incorrect — he’s much better.”
While Harris admits he hasn’t had time to process his feelings pertaining to next year, his confidence in his ability is unwavering.
“I feel like I'm playing some of the best ball I ever have and another year in this system would be awesome, but again, I don't know what's going to happen. My motivation is as high as ever, I still feel like my best football is right in front of me,” Harris said.
“This organization's in great hands and the future is super bright no matter what. I'm going to be rooting for this club because of who those type of people are.”
Moving forward Mace knows a collective decision needs to be made with Harris, general manager Jeremy O’Day and offensive coordinator Marc Mueller.
“I think it is evident that he can still be a highly functioning quarterback in this league. It's hard to win in this league without someone that can get the job done back there at that position. We’ll take our time and do our due diligence the right way as we would any year.”
CFL free agency is scheduled to open at 12 p.m. ET on February 13, 2025.
