Saskatchewan Roughriders’ backup QB decision likely comes down to what Jake Maier wants to do

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Veteran quarterback Jake Maier has a pivotal decision to make: stay with the Saskatchewan Roughriders as a backup or leave to chase more possible playing time with another team.

The 28-year-old passer is a pending free agent after spending the 2025 season behind Trevor Harris in Regina. He was acquired by the Riders through a trade in December 2024 and signed a one-year contract extension last January. His decision could possibly affect fellow quarterback Jack Coan’s future with Saskatchewan.

“It more comes down to what Jake wants to do. Is he comfortable coming back being in the same situation he was before? That’s probably a question to ask him because his thought process is, ‘Do I come back and be put in the same position? Or do I have an opportunity to go somewhere else where I feel like I might be able to start or play more this season?'” O’Day explained. 

“Those are conversations we’re having with those guys. As far as Jack, we’d love to have him back. He’s in a situation where he wants to grow from where he was the last two seasons, he wants to have an opportunity to be the number two.”

Maier dressed all 18 regular-season games for the Roughriders in 2025. He made two starts and completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 617 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The six-foot, 200-pound QB produced a 1-1 win-loss record, though it’s worth noting he did not finish his Week 20 start against Winnipeg as Coan entered in the fourth quarter to get some playing time.

“I think some of it comes down to Jake, and then from there, conversations with Jack because he’s looking for an opportunity to be a number two. Jake’s looking for an opportunity to try to play. They’ll be ironed out shortly,” O’Day said.

“We’ve had conversations with both of them, it’s an ongoing discussion with those guys. We’re not in free agency yet, but we have a plan in place, probably not the time to give out the information.”

Coan, 27, signed with the Riders in 2024. He’s dressed for 23 regular-season games and completed 12-of-29 passes for 138 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. The six-foot-three, 218-pound QB has also rushed 16 times for 54 yards with three majors.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders finished first in the West Division standings in 2025 with a 12-6 record, finishing first in the West Division for the first time since 2019. The team went on to defeat the Montreal Alouettes in the 112th Grey Cup in Winnipeg, marking the team’s first championship in 12 years. Trevor Harris went 11-5 as a starter, throwing for 4,549 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.

The Roughriders ranked second in net offence, second in net defence, and tied for third with a turnover differential of plus-eight. The club’s leading rusher was A.J. Ouellette with 1,222 yards, leading receiver was KeeSean Johnson with 1,159 yards, and leading tackler was A.J. Allen with 91 tackles. Saskatchewan finished second in attendance with average crowds of 28,427, which was a 2.7 percent increase from the previous year.