With dreams of a repeat championship falling short, some Saskatchewan Roughriders fans may enter the 2026 Grey Cup between the Montreal Alouettes and the Edmonton Elks as neutral observers, but some familiar faces could help in the decision of who to cheer for. There are a total of eight former Roughriders taking the field, and a handful of coaches. Here’s a look at who they are: Montreal Alouettes Alexandre Gagné - Linebacker Alexandre Gagné signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders back in 2017, spending three seasons with the team. The Quebec-born linebacker primarily settled into a special teams role early in his CFL career as a Rider, and continues to hold that role with the Montreal Alouettes, a team he joined in 2021 following the COVID-19 pandemic and won a Grey Cup with in 2023. The 34-year-old has played in every game of the 2026 season, registering 15 special teams tackles – down from his career high of 25 in the 2025 season. Jerreth Sterns – Wide Receiver Wide receiver Jerreth Sterns spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons as a Roughrider – where he played in a total of 23 games. During his time in Saskatchewan, Sterns recorded 83 catches for 941 yards and three touchdowns over two seasons. After his Rider contract expired, Sterns signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the 2025 season, before landing in Montreal for 2026. The 27-year-old played in six games as an Alouette in the regular season and appeared in the East Final against the Bombers, his former team, registering one catch for seven yards on two targets. Braydon Noll – Offensive Lineman Drafted by the Toronto Argonauts in 2022, 29-year-old offensive lineman Braydon Noll joined the Roughriders organization in 2024, playing in 15 games between the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Most of Noll’s time in green and white was spent back-and-forth between the practice squad and the active roster, but made his first start at centre before finishing the season on the injured list. He was part of the 2025 Grey Cup championship roster – his second career Grey Cup. This season, Noll has appeared in nine games for Montreal. Coaches Former Roughriders offensive coordinator Jason Maas is the head coach of the Alouettes, in search of his second Grey Cup championship in the role after winning in 2023. Corvey Irvin is another member of the coaching staff with Rider ties – he played for the Riders as a defensive lineman in 2016. Edmonton Elks Cody Fajardo - Quarterback Potentially the most influential of the former Riders on this list in terms of swaying fan support in this year’s Grey Cup, Cody Fajardo played for the Riders for three seasons from 2019 to 2022. Fajardo’s rise to power in Riderville is well-documented – the quarterback took over as starter for an injured Zach Collaros in 2019, helping lead the team to a west final where they ultimately lost to Collaros and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on one of the most replayed ‘doinks’ off the uprights in recent CFL memory. At this year’s Grey Cup, Fajardo will play in the last CFL game where a ‘doink’ is even possible, with controversial rule changes set to take effect for the 2027 season. After the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled 2020 season, frustration built in 2021 when the Riders again fell to the Bombers, this time in the west semi final. Fajardo’s Cinderella story in Saskatchewan ended in an ugly step sister of a season in 2022, when the Riders missed the playoffs. It lead to both Fajardo’s departure and that of Jason Maas, but the two would reunite in Montreal the following season to secure their ultimate revenge over the Collaros-led Bombers: winning the 2023 Grey Cup. Now, Fajardo has a chance to defeat Maas and the Alouettes as a member of the Edmonton Elks, another team where Fajardo emerged as the starter partway through the 2025 season after the Alouettes traded him there in the 2024/2025 offseason. Fajardo was named as the starter in Edmonton heading into the 2026 season, he threw for 4,788 yards and 25 touchdowns in the regular season on a first-place Elks team that went on to dispatch the B.C. Lions in the west final. Malik Carney – Defensive Lineman After winning the 2025 Grey Cup as a Roughrider, 31-year-old defensive lineman Malik Carney has a chance to win back-to-back championships, this time as an Elk. Carney was with the Roughriders for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, making a substantial impact on defence with 39 total tackles in the 2025 regular season and eight sacks. After signing with Edmonton in February, Carney improved on the sack count this season with a career-high of 11. Joe Robustelli – Wide Receiver Another 2025 Grey Cup champion, Robustelli joined the Roughriders in 2024, appearing in one game that season. In his second season as a Rider, despite missing a few games with short-term injuries, Robustelli made a major impact – picking up 38 catches for 544 yards in 12 games. Joining the Elks via free agency in 2026, Robustelli faced some injury trouble that kept him out of action until finally making his Elks debut in September. Despite missing time, Robustelli still made an impact when available – especially in the west final, where he caught six of six targets for 79 yards. Brett Boyko – Offensive Lineman Only a Rider for one season, Saskatoon-born offensive lineman Brett Boyko has played in 12 games for the Elks this season. Boyko was a Roughrider in 2021, dressing for nine games. The 34-year-old has been with the Elks since 2023, after a stint in the XFL with the Orlando Guardians. He’s currently listed on the Elks one-game injured list. Tyron Vrede – Linebacker Tyron Vrede was only on the Riders’ practice roster after 2026 training camp, before being released in July and picked up by the Elks. Prior to his brief time with the Riders, the Dutch-born linebacker spent five seasons with the Ottawa Redblacks. Vrede is currently listed on the Elks’ single game injured list. Coaches Edmonton Elks defensive coordinator and linebackers coach J.C. Sherritt worked for the Riders as linebackers coach and run game coordinator in 2024, returning to the same team where he spent his CFL playing days in 2025. Elsewhere in the coaching tree Elks Receivers Coach Jason Tucker was previously a wide receiver coach with the Roughriders from 2012 to 2014, helping the team win the Grey Cup in 2013 before leaving to explore an NFL opportunity with the Tennessee Titans. He joined the Elks in 2025. The 113th Grey Cup is set for Sunday, Nov. 15 in Calgary. The game will be broadcast on TSN, CTV and Crave.
