For Saskatchewan Roughriders running back A.J. Ouellette, this offseason has been about far more than preparing for another CFL season.
It has been about preparing for life.
In March, Ouellette welcomed his daughter into the world, and while the sleepless nights have already arrived, so too has a renewed sense of purpose.
“Dad strength,” Ouellette said with a grin when asked what he’ll be bringing into camp this year. “I had a daughter three weeks ago, so I’m bringing the dad strength in.”
The bruising, punishing running back who built his reputation on lowering his shoulder and running through defenders says fatherhood has already changed him in ways he never expected.
“Well, the whole sleep thing is getting to me,” Ouellette joked. “I feel like people need to start training years in advance.”
But beyond the lack of sleep, the change has been immediate and profound.
“It’s amazing. It’s a different mindset. I didn’t know how fast it would click in, but as soon as I was holding her, it’s no longer I’m playing this game just because I love playing it. I’m playing this game so I can take care of my daughter.”
That mindset has added another layer to the edge that already makes Ouellette one of the CFL’s toughest runners.
He still intends to bring the same physicality to Mosaic Stadium every week, but off the field, he admits the arrival of his daughter has softened him.
“I’ve looked into some female sports, did some ballerina moves in the living room while trying to rock her to sleep.”
For a player known for bruising defenders between the tackles, it’s a striking contrast and one he embraces. The offseason itself has also evolved. Ouellette said one of his biggest priorities has been finding ways to extend his career and ensure his body is ready for the grind of another championship pursuit.
Heavy lifting and punishing workouts remain staples, but this year he added new recovery and performance methods, including a direct-current muscle-stimulation machine similar to what quarterback Trevor Harris has used in his own offseason work. According to Ouellette, the results can be felt the next day.
“It’s always me limping through the next day, being sore.”
That commitment to preparation mirrors the approach he says the Roughriders must take entering a new season. Last year’s Grey Cup championship, he insists, means nothing now. The celebration is over. The focus is on what comes next.
“We’re no longer the Grey Cup champions. We’re the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2026, and we’ve got to show up day in and day out to win the day, win the battle, win the week.”
That mentality extends to the offensive side of the ball, where Ouellette says veteran players are taking an active role in shaping the playbook.
From suggesting new run schemes to working alongside the offensive line on blocking concepts, he sees the collaborative approach as a major reason for optimism heading into camp.
Still, for all the talk of football, schemes and defending a title, the biggest storyline for Ouellette this spring may be the one happening at home. A punishing running back on the field. A proud new father off it.
And if the Roughriders are looking for a motivated veteran heading into 2026, they may have found an even more dangerous version of A.J. Ouellette. A little more purpose. A little less sleep. And, by his own admission, a lot more dad strength.
