The Saskatchewan Roughriders are bringing back the former face of their franchise to help commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the team’s home Grey Cup win.
Darian Durant will be present when Saskatchewan’s 2013 Grey Cup-winning team is inducted into the club’s Plaza of Honour on Saturday, Oct. 7. The Riders are hosting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats that evening, which is the same matchup as the CFL’s championship game from a decade ago.
Durant spent eleven seasons in Regina, throwing for 28,507 yards, 149 touchdowns, and 99 interceptions and carrying the ball 375 times for 2,922 yards and 22 touchdowns. The two-time West Division all-star won two Grey Cups as a member of the team, one in 2007 as a backup behind Kerry Joseph before capturing one as a starter in 2013.
The 41-year-old was traded to the Montreal Alouettes following the 2016 season when he and the team were unable to agree to terms on a contract extension. He threw for 3,233 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions in one season with the Alouettes prior to his release. He signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers shortly after he was cut by Montreal, though he retired before training camp got underway.
This marks the first time Durant will be present for a game in Saskatchewan since his retirement. He left the organization on sour terms as then-head coach and general manager Chris Jones called him a “moderately successful” quarterback in an interview with the Regina Leader-Post.
Saskatchewan also announced that former head coach Corey Chamblin will be attending the dedication. Other former players who are attending include Kory Sheets, Tyron Brackenridge, Tristan Jackson, Chris Getzlaf, and Neal Hughes. The weekend will be filled with community appearances and autograph sessions.
The Riders defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats by a score of 45-23 in the 2013 Grey Cup in Regina. Sheets was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after rushing for a Grey Cup record 197 yards and two touchdowns.
The Riders have won four Grey Cups since they were founded in 1910 with the 2013 championship being the most recent. It remains the only championship the team has won on home soil and was the last CFL championship game played at Taylor Field before it was demolished following the 2016 season.
