Saskatchewan Roughriders' head coach Corey Mace knew his team was on the clock to sign quarterback Jake Maier prior to CFL free agency opening on Tuesday, February 11.
"We saw the writing on the wall," Mace told the SportsCage. "We're certain it would have been a very hot topic. I know Jake's extremely excited to be here, being in this atmosphere and pushing forward with the Green and White."
The Riders acquired Maier in a trade with Calgary on December 23, 2024, when Saskatchewan general manager Jeremy O'Day sent an eighth-round 2025 CFL Draft pick to the Stampeders. Maier was a pending free agent and could have tested the open market.
The six-foot, 200-pound QB spent four season with the Stamps. In 2024, he threw for 3,841 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions in 18 regular season games. The Stampeders did not make the playoffs and finished with a 5-12-1 record, the first time since 2004 Calgary failed to qualify for the postseason.
"You look at the season that they had with his previous team, and it was tough sledding," Mace said. "You look at it, you really watch, there were a lot of really good things that he did. Having him being added to the quarterback room, being familiar with the system, myself and [Marc] Mueller, we're happy as ever. He's going to learn a lot from Trevor. All things considered, it was an excellent move for us."
Mueller was the quarterback coach in Calgary from 2020 through 2023. Maier's best year statistically came in Mueller's last season in Calgary, when he threw for 4,244 yards, 19 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Mueller moved on to become the Riders offensive coordinator and the familiarity should help Maier in Saskatchewan.
Mace finished his first year as a head coach with a 9-8-1 record and the Riders made the playoffs with home-field advantage, beating the B.C. Lions 28-19 in the West Semi-Final on November 2, 2024. Saskatchewan's next opponent was the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the West Final, where the team lost 38-22 on November 9, 2024. According to Mace, his wife jokes that he should relax since it is the off-season.
"The wife jokes and says: 'I thought it was the off-season,'" Mace said with a laugh. "We're always doing something, and I love that."
