‘I don’t get the sense he’s done’: Riders’ GM hopeful veteran QB Trevor Harris will return in 2026

A week after their Grey Cup parade, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are already planning for next season. Donovan Maess has more.

Saskatchewan Roughriders’ VP of Football Operations and General Manager Jeremy O’Day believes Trevor Harris may still have more snaps under centre waiting for him next season.

“I don’t get the sense he’s done playing football,” O’Day told reporters as part of his end of season availability Tuesday. “We had a really good discussion and we’ll be talking again real shortly.”

The 39-year-old pivot just finished his 13th Canadian Football League (CFL) season, was the Riders’ team nominee for Most Outstanding Player and won the Grey Cup game’s Most Valuable Player.

Playing 17 games in 2025, Harris had his best season as a Saskatchewan Roughrider, completing 73.5 per cent of his passes, throwing for over 4,500 yards, 24 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions.

“He had a great year and stayed healthy. He finished the year strong, obviously with winning a championship,” O’Day said. “We’d love to have him back. It’s just a matter of having the conversation with him. And then, once we get down the road to figure out a contract.”

• ‘If there’s more football for me’: Trevor Harris still undecided as questions about his future swirl

Harris said last week he has many things to consider about playing another season. Adding he believes ‘physical deterioration’ would not be what forces him to retire.

“I’d be shocked if I turn around and say, ‘It’s a wrap,’” Harris told reporters Nov. 19. “But maybe I wouldn’t be shocked. I don’t know because I don’t want to put any pressure on it.”

““We want to [win a Grey Cup] again. But I’m going to still take some time to [think about my future] because emotions are high, especially after a [championship],” he added.

Quick turnaround

O’Day says there has been little rest for the football operations team after lifting the Grey Cup just nine days ago.

“You pass the Grey Cup around, have the parade the next day, then go back in the coach’s office and it hits you,” he said. “You have exit meetings with the players and their contracts are up. You’re trying to give them the information you can, letting them know and making sure they understand [we] want them to be back.”

Saskatchewan has 45 players set to be free agents this offseason.

“I haven’t had any players walk in and tell me they don’t want to be part of the team,” O’Day said. “But we haven’t really gone down the road with all this, in fairness. We’re just starting those conversations.”

Just as he thought at the end of the 2024 season, O’Day believes roster continuity will be key in their efforts to repeat as Grey Cup champions – something Saskatchewan has never done in franchise history.

“We really like a lot of the players [who] are on our team,” he said. “We’re going to try to get as many back. When you win, and especially when you win a Grey Cup, it becomes more difficult.”

Riders sign two linemen

A few hours after O’Day’s availability Tuesday, Saskatchewan announced the signing of two players, national defensive lineman Liam Hoskins and American offensive lineman Darius Washington.

Hoskins was selected by the Roughriders in the fifth round, 43rd overall, of the 2025 CFL Draft after appearing in 44 games over five seasons (2021–25) at the University of Windsor.

The London, Ont. product recorded 126 total tackles, including 16 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, three interceptions, seven pass deflections, and one fumble recovery.

Washington rejoins the Saskatchewan Roughriders after playing four games during the 2025 season.

Collegiately, Washington suited up for six seasons (2019-2024) at Florida State playing in 57 games as a Seminole, including 47 career starts – 33 at left tackle, 11 at right tackle and three at centre.

In 2024, he started all 10 games at left tackle and became one of only two players in Florida State history to start in six consecutive seasons.