Some players arrive in Saskatchewan and become fan favourites because of spectacular catches, bone-jarring tackles or game-winning plays. Tommy Stevens has managed to do it by falling forward.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders' short-yardage specialist spent his first season in Green and White bulldozing his way through defensive fronts, collecting first downs, scoring touchdowns and helping the franchise capture the 2025 Grey Cup.
Now entering his second season with the club, Stevens has become one of the most recognizable players on the roster, and Rider Nation is still trying to decide exactly what to call him.
The nickname search has become a recurring topic on SportsCage radio, with hosts Barney Shynkaruk and Teagan Witko, along with Riders analyst Luc Mullinder, helping fuel the debate.
Some suggestions have been straightforward.
"Touchdown Tommy."
"TD Tommy."
Others have been a little more creative.
When Stevens joined SportsCage alongside defensive lineman Mike Rose, the conversation quickly turned from football to branding.
Rose offered up "The Bulldozer."
"That's not bad," Stevens replied.
The Riders quarterback admitted another suggestion has grown on him.
"I like Stone Cold," Stevens said. "I've grown to like having the music play after the first down, so I do like that one."
One fan even suggested "The Tank," but Stevens revealed that the nickname is already taken in the family.
"The Tank is actually my brother," Stevens explained. "We grew up, and his nickname was Tank. I'm still Little Tommy in my family. My dad's Big Tommy. He says, when I can kick his butt, for lack of a better term, that's when I can be Big Tommy. It's not happening anytime soon."
Rose wasn't done brainstorming.
"How about The Train?" he suggested.
Unfortunately, that one may already belong to Saskatchewan running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon.
Then came perhaps the most unique option of all.
SportsCage's Dave Thomas proposed "Tommy Torque" — a nod to the torque converter found in an automatic transmission and Stevens' nearly automatic success in short-yardage situations.
Stevens appreciated the effort.
"It's very good," he laughed. "I don't know if most people would pick it up, but it is very good. It's a good thought."
Rose's final submission?
"Train Tracks Tommy."
Whether any of the suggestions stick remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Stevens has become a player fans genuinely enjoy cheering for.
Part of that connection was built away from the football field.
During the off-season, Stevens spent time travelling across Saskatchewan with the Grey Cup, visiting communities and participating in school programs as part of the Roughrider Foundation’s community initiatives.
"It was really cool getting out in the province, meeting the people of Saskatchewan, and going to some places that I'd never heard of," Stevens said. "There were places that were very passionate about the Riders."
"It's really cool going out and having an influence on young people's lives."
That appreciation for Rider Nation appears to be mutual.
While fans debate nicknames, Stevens is focused on football and helping a quarterback room that features one of the CFL's most intriguing dynamics.
With Trevor Harris leading the offence and a collection of talented quarterbacks pushing each other behind the scenes, Stevens believes the group's chemistry has been one of the team's biggest strengths.
"All four of us are very, very competitive, but we also get it," Stevens said. "It's pro football, we understand how this thing works. Ultimately, it's only going to make the room better by supporting each other."
The veteran quarterback said the group has spent camp learning from one another, correcting mistakes together and finding ways to improve through collaboration rather than competition.
"It's a great room," Stevens said. "I've really enjoyed my time with all these guys."
That atmosphere could prove important as Saskatchewan looks to defend its Grey Cup championship. Stevens' role may not always generate the same headlines as the starting quarterback, but few players in the CFL are more dependable when a team needs a single yard.
His track record speaks for itself. Over his CFL career, Stevens has converted 122 of 132 quarterback sneak attempts and has successfully moved the chains on 60 of 62 third-down sneaks. In 2025, he scored five rushing touchdowns for Saskatchewan, including two in the Grey Cup victory over Montreal.
Whether he's Touchdown Tommy, Stone Cold, The Bulldozer or Train Tracks Tommy, the Riders know exactly what they have.
When Saskatchewan needs one yard, Tommy Stevens remains one of the surest bets in Canadian football.
