SASKATOON — Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Jack Coan finds himself in a rather unique position as he heads into his third training camp with the Canadian Football League team.
For the first time in his CFL career, he’s one of the most experienced pivots taking the field — with only Grey Cup winner and 14-year veteran Trevor Harris having more snaps in the league than the former Notre Dame Fighting Irish standout.
That’s not to say Coan is riding on cruise control as main camp hits high gear this week. In fact, the furthest thing from it. Competition for a backup spot promises to be fierce as camp progresses and, to that end, Coan has done all he can to get ready for the challenge ahead.
“Yeah, I feel great,” Coan said in a conversation with Roughriders play-by-play announcer Dave Thomas on Sunday morning. “I mean, it's just great to be out here again with the guys. It's my third year in the offence, so I'm feeling a lot more comfortable with everything. I can help out guys a lot more in terms of what I know about the offence and just helping people get lined up and learn the playbook as well. I definitely feel a lot more comfortable and just super excited to be out here.”
Playing two seasons in the Riders' system has given Coan a pretty good feel for what to expect heading into camp — and that’s all quite a bit different compared to his early days with the team, when basic improvement was the goal.
“I remember after my first offseason, a big point of emphasis was just really working on my arm strength and just being able to touch all spots of the field,” Coan said. “It was an adjustment for me my first year, just how wide and big the field was. I just take that with me every single offseason and, like always, just try to work on my athleticism, arm strength, and be able to make more plays.”
While eventually taking the field as a starter would be the ultimate goal, having the chance to learn from someone with the kind of experience Harris has certainly doesn’t hurt, and Coan is doing what he can to make the best of the opportunity.
“I'd say we're always trying to compete. Trevor is obviously one of the hardest workers on the team, if not the hardest worker, and I see whatever he does and try to take it one step past,” Coan said. “It's just kind of the relationship we have. We pretty much do everything together, and if I see him in the weight room and he's doing a certain amount of weight, he'll be making fun of me if I'm doing less. So it's that kind of relationship, and he's just an awesome guy to be around.”
Roughriders head coach Corey Mace kept his cards close to his chest when talking about the quarterback situation, but acknowledged that Coan’s experience is certainly a benefit.
“Jack’s been around the system now for three years. He’s always been in Trevor’s hip pocket, so he’s someone who can mimic what that looks like,” Mace said. “But obviously he’s his own man. He has to go out there and take advantage of the reps he’s given. He’s competing just like everyone else.”
While his time on the practice roster, and as a second and third-string back-up, has kept Coan involved, he hasn’t seen a lot of action on the CFL field as of yet. He completed 10 of 21 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown in the 2024 campaign. Then while playing behind Harris, Jake Maier and Tommy Stevens, Coan saw action in only five games in 2025, completing two of eight passes for 38 yards.
Naturally, the Sayville, N.Y. product hopes that situation changes for the better this season.
“I mean, at the end of the day, I haven't done a thing in this league yet, so I'm just trying to make the most out of every single day,” Coan said. “I get my opportunity to just make the most of them and to see where it goes from there. “
That all will likely begin in Saskatchewan's first preseason game May 18 when the Riders travel to Calgary to take on the Stampeders.
“Since I've been here, I've always just viewed myself as the starter or starter in waiting, so I just try to take that mindset onto the field that I'm always a play or two away,” Coan said. “So, that's just my mindset.”
Riders training camp continues at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon all week, with practices running from 8:30-11:55 a.m. each day. Be sure to keep an eye on SportsCage.com for regular stories and features as camp progresses.
