The Saskatchewan Roughriders aren’t just preparing for another season with Trevor Harris under centre; they’re quietly laying the groundwork for what comes next. And increasingly, that plan appears to involve trusting Jack Coan.
Speaking ahead of the CFL combine, vice president of football operations and general manager Jeremy O'Day made it clear the organization is comfortable with the quarterbacks already in the building. There’s no rush to look outside for a veteran option. Instead, the Roughriders are turning inward.
“Our plan is to go to camp with the guys that we have,” O’Day said. “We haven’t communicated with anyone outside the organization as far as any veteran-type players.”
With Harris entering his fourth season in Saskatchewan and turning 40, the conversation around the future of the position isn’t hypothetical anymore. O’Day acknowledged as much, noting the team has to start preparing for life after its veteran starter, even if the timeline remains fluid.
“I think we've got to start preparing for life after Trevor. That will be determined as time goes on.”
But while the Roughriders aren’t naming a clear-cut No. 2 heading into training camp, the investment and opportunity surrounding Coan stand out.
The 27-year-old has been in the system since 2024 and was re-signed in January. He’s seen limited action, but meaningful flashes, including a touchdown pass in his CFL debut and a role in short-yardage packages during a Grey Cup-winning season that has given the organization confidence.
More importantly, O’Day didn’t shy away from what that investment represents.
“We invested two years in Jack. When we looked at it, knowing that Jake (Maier) was going to move on, we had the conversation, 'Do we feel like we’ve got the guy in the building already?' And the answer to that was yes.”
That’s as close to an endorsement as you’ll get in March.
Still, the competition will be real. Coan will be pushed by Tommy Stevens, who has carved out a reputation as one of the league’s most effective short-yardage quarterbacks, along with newcomer Jordan McCloud and young prospect Brayden Schager.
O’Day emphasized the battle for the backup job is “wide open," but context matters. Coan has the advantage of familiarity not just with the playbook, but with the organization’s expectations.
“Jack has been here longer than the other guys. It’s up to Jack to go out and perform.”
That puts him squarely in the spotlight heading into training camp.
The Roughriders know how quickly a season can change at quarterback. O’Day referenced past years where a starter went down just three plays into a season. With Harris no longer in his early 30s, the urgency to have a capable successor isn’t theoretical.
While Saskatchewan isn’t declaring Coan the heir apparent, their actions suggest belief. They didn’t bring in a veteran safety net. They re-signed him. They’ve developed him. And now, they’re giving him the first real opportunity to take the job.
For a team balancing a Grey Cup window with the realities of an aging starter, that’s a significant vote of confidence.
Training camp will determine how it all shakes out. But for now, the Roughriders are making one thing clear: if the next quarterback is already in the building, they believe Jack Coan might be that guy.
