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After a decade as president and CEO of the Saskatchewan Roughriders organization, Craig Reynolds finally got his Grey Cup as the leader of the organization.
“That was a moment you see on TV. It really was special to have my kids there and I couldn’t find them at first. I finally found them and was able to hug them and say ‘we did it’,” Reynolds said in a recent year-end interview with CBC.
“It’s just a very special moment I’ll remember the rest of my life.”
After being named Riders president and CEO in late 2014, Reynolds saw his team get close to a West division title only to lose to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2019, 2021 and 2024.
“We played in four of the last six West Finals and just could not get over the hump and actually get into that game,” Reynolds said, “so to be able to get into the game and then be successful was just an incredible moment.”
“I thought so much about people in the organization who hadn’t even had an opportunity to win a Grey Cup — seeing the joy in so many people’s eyes on the field or afterwards at the party,” he said. The team had suffered through back-to-back 6-12 seasons in 2022 and 2023.
Reynolds said the parade and rally at the Saskatchewan legislative building blew him away.
Focus is on keeping team leaders
As big as the victory was for the franchise in claiming its fifth CFL title, Reynolds pointed to wins off of the field.
Midway through the season the team signed head coach Corey Mace and general manager Jeremy O’Day to contract extensions.
“When I looked back at what were some successes overall of 2025, that’s up there pretty high is extending them.”
Mace led the team to the Grey Cup in only his second year in charge.
“I think the moment you meet Corey Mace, you kind of expect this kind of result. He’s just a special, special person,” Reynolds said. “He’s a special coach and he surrounds himself with great people and great coaches as well.
Reynolds said Mace has made his presence felt in a province obsessed with football.
“Corey is so committed here,” Reynolds said.”He loves this province, he loves this team, he loves our fan base.”
Saskatchewan Roughriders president and CEO Craig Reynolds sits down with CBC’s Adam Hunter to talk about the team’s success in 2025 and how it can keep up the momentum moving forward.
Running it back
After the Grey Cup victory, the team turned its attention to keeping many of its core players together, starting with quarterback Trevor Harris. The Grey Cup MVP signed a one-year extension.
“His leadership skills are off the charts,” Reynolds said. “What he does in the community, he gives back and embraces this fan base and embraces this province.”
“I think when you bring back your leader, not to mention he’s playing at a very high level at a very important position, I think it just sets us up for continued success.”
The team also inked one of Harris’s favourite targets, receiver Samuel Emilus, on Dec. 24. He was named the outstanding Canadian in the Grey Cup.
A player who protects Harris, Jermarcus Hardrick, also signed a one-year extension. He won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award in 2025
Having Mace, O’Day, and Emilus signed through the 2027 season is important for the upcoming season but also because the Riders host the 2027 Grey Cup.
As the reigning champions, the Riders players will be hot properties.
“We not only won the Grey Cup, we had nine all-stars, which led the league. That’s the reality of pro sports,” Reynolds said.
“As an organization, we believe in continuity. We think that’s the key to success. I know Jeremy’s working very hard to try to retain as much of the core as we possibly can.”
Another off field win was securing host duties for the 2027 Grey Cup.
“Only five years on from the last time we hosted — winning that bid again — it’s huge for the franchise.”
Reynolds says the club turned the corner after financial difficulties of the cancelled 2020 season and missing the playoffs in 2022 and 2023: “There is a massive economic impact of that event.”
Another impact is the merchandise sales that come with winning the cup.
“Sales have been outstanding. As soon as we put things on the shelf, they’re flying off. I haven’t seen anything like that probably since 2013,” Reynolds said.
Now the focus is on 2026 but with an eye on 2027.
“Part of what Jeremy would be looking at this offseason is how do we retain that core and position ourselves to be able to be competitive and participate in that game,” Reynolds said. “And that’s obviously the ultimate goal.”
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