Jake Maier is poised to start at quarterback for the fourth consecutive time at Mosaic Stadium.
But the latest front-line assignment will have a new and welcome twist.
“Truth be told, I’ve played a lot of games in this building on silent cadence,” a smiling Maier said in the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ media room on Thursday. “It’s going to be nice to not do that.”
Maier started 45 games for the Calgary Stampeders over the past four seasons. In that high-profile capacity, he piloted the Stampeders to victory during their sole visits to Saskatchewan in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Now he is a Roughrider, having signed with them on Jan. 9th. Saskatchewan had acquired him from Calgary for a sixth-round CFL Draft choice on Dec. 23rd.
Although Maier was brought here to serve as the primary backup to Trevor Harris, Friday’s pre-season game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7 p.m., Mosaic Stadium) will have a different look.
Harris and an assortment of other veterans are being rested for the June 5th CFL regular-season opener against the visiting Ottawa REDBLACKS. As a result, Maier will be first to accept snaps for his new team versus Winnipeg.
“It never gets old,” Maier said of a starting assignment. “It’s something you never take for granted.
“I’ve been on both sides of it. I’ve been a backup. I’ve been a starter. You’re never unappreciative of having an organization say, ‘Hey, we want you to start at quarterback in a game,’ no matter what the magnitude is, so I’m super grateful.”
Maier is coming off a 2024 season in which he threw for 22 touchdowns (third-best in the league) and 3,841 yards (fourth).
However, a 5-12-1 season initiated change in Calgary — the most notable difference being behind centre, where Vernon Adams Jr. takes over after being acquired from the B.C. Lions on Nov. 26th.
From the outset, Saskatchewan loomed as a logical destination for Maier, who is well-acquainted with Mace and the Roughriders’ current offensive co-ordinator, Marc Mueller.
Mace and Mueller were both assistant coaches in Calgary while Maier was there.
“It reminds me of when he first got his start back in Calgary,” said Mace, who was the Stampeders’ defensive line coach from 2016 to 2021. “There were balls flying around and everybody is sitting there going, ‘Oooh. Who’s that?!’
“I certainly can’t speak to what it has been like for him the past couple of years, but he’s happy as ever to be in the building every day. He’s competing his tail off. He’s making it hard for the defence and, when he’s in the huddle, he commands it.
“I think that has been really good for him. I think it has been good for us and for the competition’s sake as well. Jack (Coan) has all those same intangibles.
“We’re pleased with the (quarterbacks’) room.”
Harris and Maier give Saskatchewan two of the four quarterbacks who threw 20-plus TD passes in the CFL last season. Harris produced 20 aerial majors in 11 regular-season starts.
“Being around with guys like Trevor Harris and reuniting with Coach Mueller has been a really nice re-set for me, personally, so I’m super grateful to be here,” Maier said.
“I love it here. I can’t believe how amazing and beautiful the facility is here. The culture of the team right now is in a really good spot.”
Mace indicated on Thursday that Maier could play at least the first half against Winnipeg. Coan and ex-Stampeder Tommy Stevens are also expected to see quarterbacking duty.
“The way that I approach things and the work ethic that I try to put into this job really doesn’t change at all, whether I’m the starter or the backup,” Maier noted.
“All I know is I get to start one game that I’m super grateful for (on Friday) and I’ll try to be as much of that Quarterback 1 for this team in that situation that I’ve been put in.
“I’ll always be competitive. I’d like to believe that I’m always going to be someone who will put my best foot forward for my team, regardless of what role I’m in. (Friday’s) going to be no different.”
But he will be standing on a different sideline, resplendent in a No. 9 Roughriders jersey.
“I understand the passion and the sense of urgency that this fan base brings when it comes to winning and losing and playing well,” Maier said. “I am curious about that. I’m excited about that.
“Being able to play in front of so many people who are cheering for you now, that’s going to be an adrenalin rush, for sure.
“To kind of hear the roars when something good happens, that’s something I personally have been a part of in moments, but I know here it takes it to another level, so that’ll be fun.”
