‘A great opportunity’: Jack Coan pushing for backup quarterback role at Riders camp

Jack Coan has played under some of the brightest lights in the sport, but he’s now facing one of the biggest tests of his career at Roughriders training camp.

From throwing touchdowns at Notre Dame Stadium in front of over 80,000 of the most passionate college football fans on the planet to running out of the tunnel at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

The spotlight that comes with quarterbacking the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Notre Dame Fighting Irish isn’t something he ever asked for, however.

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“It’s not something I seek or like to be in,” Coan said. “I don’t mind being in it, but it’s not something I seek out. I’d rather (the spotlight) be on my teammates.”

The 27-year-old is one of four quarterbacks at camp in Saskatoon this week, battling to earn the Riders’ backup quarterback job behind starter Trevor Harris.

“Obviously there’s a great opportunity in our room,” Coan said. “At the end of the day, I treat it just like every other camp and just try to make the most of every single rep I get.”

Coan, Tommy Stevens, Brayden Schager and Jordan McCloud are taking reps following Harris this week for the job which Jake Maier held last season before departing for the Ottawa Redblacks in the off-season.

Last year, Coan dressed in just five games for Saskatchewan, completing two of his eight passing attempts along with 40 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

In 2024, meanwhile, the Sayville, N.Y. product was 10 for 21 in passing attempts with 100 yards and a touchdown thrown on Oct. 26 against the Calgary Stampeders.

While they aren’t numbers that leap off the page, Coan said his experience around the team over the past three seasons has been valuable as he chases a backup position this spring.

“It’s my third year in the offence, as well,” Coan said. “I feel a lot more comfortable. I can look at plays and film at a different level now than just sort of learning everything for the first time.”

Roughriders head coach Corey Mace said Coan is progressing well through camp, but added the real indicator if he’s ready for an elevated role will come in the pre-season.

“From a mental standpoint, he’s going to know it as well as anybody,” Mace said.

“It’s just about going out there and executing. With Jack, he’s getting better every single day. Ultimately when we get to these pre-season games, we’ll see what that looks like with live bullets going.”

Coan has spent the last two seasons learning from Harris in the starting quarterback role, a rare position he said as one of the few quarterbacks in the CFL to be able to pick the Grey Cup champion’s brain.

That’s resulted in some healthy competition between the two.

“Me and Trevor are always trying to outwork each other,” Coan said.

“The way he goes about his weekly preparation is basically the way I do now. He’s done it at a high level for so long in this league, why wouldn’t you try to do exactly what that guy does?”

While Coan competes for an everyday spot on the Roughriders roster, there’s another universe where his mind would be focused on goal scoring and running up a different kind of field.

Growing up on Long Island, lacrosse was one of the sports Coan gravitated towards and earned enough attention at the collegiate level.

Ironically, the same program where he’d represent the Fighting Irish on the gridiron.

“When I was in high school I was actually committed to Notre Dame to play lacrosse,” Coan said. “I always loved the sport, played it since I was a little kid.”

Lacrosse was always a constant for Coan, though when the University of Wisconsin came offering a football scholarship his decision wasn’t a hard one.

“Where I was from, everyone was playing lacrosse in college,” Coan said. “I just thought that’s what I was going to do. Once I got the first few offers for football, I knew I was definitely going to do that.”

While he has some friends who now play in the National Lacrosse League, Coan is still waiting to attend his first Saskatchewan Rush game while in Saskatoon.

“I’ve always wanted to make it to a game, but we’re always in camp so it’s pretty tough,” Coan said.

Despite his lacrosse background, football has always been king in Coan’s world with the moment of throwing a perfect touchdown pass standing head and shoulders above any other sport.

“There’s no doubt,” Coan said. “Definitely one of the best feelings in the world.”

Riders training camp notes

Tuesday’s practice at Griffiths Stadium was the first fully padded session of training camp.

According to Mace, the players did a good job of not crossing the line into scuffles or fights with the physicality ramped up.

“It was good and it was a physical practice,” Mace said.

“Good decision-making, usually this practice we got to hit some sprints. We didn’t have to do that today. We’ve been harping on the penalties, guys were smart for the most part today.”

Defensive back Tevaughn Campbell was not on the field Tuesday for the third day in a row as he continues to tend to a “personal matter.” As for defensive lineman Caleb Sanders, Mace said he’s expected to be at training camp in the next “day or two” after being sidelined to begin the week.

Two transactions were made on Tuesday with the Roughriders signing American wide receiver Mathew Sexton after he attended Ottawa Redblacks rookie camp last week.

The Roughriders also announced defensive back Gideon Agyei has been moved to the retired list. Agyei, a former University of Calgary Dino, was taking part in his second CFL training camp after being selected in the sixth round of the 2025 CFL Draft by Saskatchewan.