Markus Howell turns down offensive coordinator interview request from Saskatchewan Roughriders

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

Markus Howell has turned down a request to interview for the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ vacant offensive coordinator position, per sources.

The 47-year-old is currently the run game coordinator and receivers coach of the Edmonton Elks. He has previously been an offensive assistant with the Toronto Argonauts, B.C. Lions, Riders and Blue Bombers.

The Winnipeg native was a fourth-round pick in the 2000 CFL Draft and played 11 seasons in the three-down league as a member of the Bombers, Ottawa Renegades and Calgary Stampeders. He made 152 catches for 2,093 yards and nine touchdowns while recording 4,061 return yards with two touchdowns.

Kelly Jeffrey and Pete Costanza are interviewing for the role a second time on Wednesday, Dec. 7 via videoconference, according to 3DownNation‘s John Hodge.

Jeffrey is Saskatchewan’s running backs coach and also the lone holdover from the Riders’ offensive coaching staff this past season. He has previously been the quarterbacks coach of the Edmonton Elks, the head coach at Mount Allison University, and an offensive coordinator at Mount Allison and Mayville State University.

Costanza is currently the receivers coach and pass game coordinator for the 109th Grey Cup champion Argos. He has won five rings since first coming to the CFL in 2008 having previously been a receivers coach with Calgary and running backs coach in Winnipeg.

The Riders fired Jason Maas as the team’s offensive coordinator following a disappointing 6-12 season during which the green and white finished eighth in the league with 19.8 offensive points per game and ninth with 302.6 net offensive yards per game. Saskatchewan allowed a league-worst 77 sacks with Cody Fajardo planning to test free agency after being replaced late in the year by Mason Fine.

Marc Mueller and Khari Jones interviewed for the Roughriders’ vacant offensive coordinator position, though neither remain candidates for the job. Mueller elected to remain with the Calgary Stampeders, while Jones was named offensive coordinator and assistant head coach with the Ottawa Redblacks.