Before being asked a single question by media members as part of his year-end availability Sunday, Saskatchewan Roughriders’ quarterback Trevor Harris had a message for reporters. “I just want to thank all of you guys; I know I tell you guys often I don’t take for granted to be,” he stopped, choking up for a second. Harris then took a breath and resumed his short speech. “…the quarterback here. It is the honour of a lifetime,” he said after collecting himself. It was a rare showing of emotion from the 40-year-old, 14-year CFL veteran who came off a Western semi-final loss Saturday night. Sunday was the final day the Roughriders shared a day together, clearing out their lockers as they do at the end of each season. This one from Harris felt different. “I care about this team, this organization, I love this organization and I love being a Roughrider,” he added. “There’s nobody more disappointed in the way this ended.” What was seemingly an unprompted, emotional and heartfelt speech to beat reporters, play-by-play announcers, columnists and some of his biggest critics was one of respect, says Harris. “Honestly, just gratitude, man,” he responded. “When I say, ‘I don’t take for granted getting to do this, to sit in this chair, to take the snaps under centre,’ I mean that.” “I don’t take for granted the fact you guys all care and you guys are here and asking questions and putting time into that and writing articles. Man, I wanted to win this title for you guys too.” Question mark Harris, however, stopped short of saying this season’s end would be his last. It is not the one he wanted, either, sacked on the final play of the West semi-final with the game on the line to be eliminated from playoff contention – and a shot at repeating as champions ended. “I woke up several times last night thinking about the plays and a couple of them going like, ‘That was just a dream we lost, right? There’s no way we lost,” Harris said. At the end of the 2025 season, Harris said if he returned in 2026, it would not be to “round the bases.” Coming off being awarded last season’s Grey Cup’s Most Valuable Player, this year was one of his best, statistically. Although he’ll likely remind you, “stats are for losers,” if you told him that. At 40, he soared to a career-high 5,370 passing yards. The total saw him climb to fourth in Roughriders’ franchise history for passing in Green and White. Harris also surpassed CFL legend Doug Flutie for 10th all-time in league history for passing yards. His 615 completions this season tied a career-best; with 32 touchdown passes – second most in his career – and 115 rushing yards to boot. More than just a home run trot. “I don’t know if I feel any differently,” Harris said, comparing himself to the end of last year. “Physically, I feel better than last year; I had more rushing yards this year and I’m able to move around when I need to. The misconception is like, ‘Oh, you can’t run anymore’ or whatever it is. Like, I just want to get through my progressions a little bit better to let those receivers handle that situation.” ‘Didn’t want to take my pads off’ As Harris walked off the field in Vancouver Saturday night, he took a brief moment to himself. As the Lions celebrated advancing to the West final against Edmonton, the broadcast’s camera panned over to a longing Harris at the back of the endzone. After he shook a couple hands from Lions’ personnel, he turned to head back to the dressing room, stopped briefly and turned one more time at the gridiron he has taken in 214 times in the regular season – another 11 times in the playoffs. “I was the little boy in the stands growing up watching the guys,” Harris said tearing up again. “And I get to do that.” Harris calls his parents, who live in Ohio, before every game. “[My mom] and my dad did so much for me, taking me to the games and getting to watch; but I get to be that guy. I wanted to take it in, just in case,” he said. “And when I got in the locker room, I didn’t want to take my pads off.” Words which Harris spoke at the end of the 2025 season echoed again Sunday. A decision Sunday he says, would be an “emotional” one: not in his make-up. “There are things about my game that I self-reflect on, just even from last night, like, ‘How can I be better?” Harris said promptly. “But at the same time, I don’t know. There’s a lot of thoughts that go through your mind, but it’s a very emotional decision you’d make right now. And [I] don’t want to make an emotional decision because emotional decisions often can steer you in the wrong direction.” Undecided Just as he did last season, Harris says he needs some time away to think intently about what the next phase of his career may look like. “Like I said last year, I won’t come back unless I know I could be a tier one quarterback, and that’ll be the same thing as well along with the decision process go through [this year],” he noted. “If I can’t be an elite tier one quarterback, I won’t come back and play next year.” However, if he does return for a 15th season, you can bet he’s all-in. “I know if I do come back next year, we’re going to be in that last game,” Harris said sternly. “But again, I’m not, I don’t know, you know, that’s an emotional thing, but it’s yeah.”
