Montreal Alouettes Head coach Jason Maas sends a strong and a fierce message to his former team Saskatchewan Roughriders ahead of the Grey Cup match clash

Montreal Alouettes head coach Jason Maas is widely recognized as one of the most passionate and fiercely competitive figures in the CFL.

Yet, despite facing his former team, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, in the 112th Grey Cup, Maas isn’t letting any personal motivation stemming from his past define him publicly. The 49-year-old coach, who served as Saskatchewan’s offensive coordinator for two seasons, was dismissed after the team endured a seven-game losing streak that kept them out of the playoffs in 2022.

Now, three years later, Maas has the chance to confront the organization that once let him go on the CFL’s biggest stage. However, when asked about any lingering desire for revenge, he remained remarkably composed.

“I guess everybody could look at that as human nature — you look for motivation, no matter where it comes from. I’m long past that,” Maas said in a recent interview. “I found a home, very appreciative of the home where I currently am, and thankful for the people I work with every single day.

I have a smile on my face every day. Sometimes things happen for reasons, and if this was something I had to go through to land where I have, I’m very grateful and thankful for it. That’s all I’ll really say about it.”

When asked about what Corey Mace, Saskatchewan’s current head coach, has brought to the team that Maas felt was lacking during his time there, Maas focused on the renewed culture within the organization. “I’m not there now, but what I witnessed and what I see is a whole bunch of guys that play extremely hard for that man,” he noted. “The proof is in the pudding watching them play, and how they play is an emulation of how he played.

I think he’s brought a lot, probably more than I know, because I’m not in there every day to see it. I just see it from the outside, and I’m super impressed by it. He’s provided a team, every single day, that has belief in themselves and that they can win every game.”

Looking back, it’s clear that both Maas and Saskatchewan benefitted from his departure.

The Beaver Dam, Wisconsin native used the setback as a springboard, taking control of the Montreal Alouettes and transforming them into a perennial contender. Meanwhile, Saskatchewan was able to reset under new leadership, allowing Mace to establish himself as a coach capable of leading the team into a new era.

Maas’ journey with Saskatchewan had begun on a high note. In 2021, he helped the Riders reach the West Final, which earned him a two-year contract extension.

However, the following season proved far more challenging.
The team suffered a late-season collapse, finishing with an offense ranked seventh in points and ninth in net yards, leading to Maas’ firing. The organization also allowed starting quarterback Cody Fajardo to leave in free agency, signaling a full reset.

In Montreal, Maas and Fajardo found new life. The pair joined a team grappling with ownership issues and organizational instability, and together they quickly turned the Alouettes into a championship-caliber squad. The transformation was swift and remarkable: they won a Grey Cup title in 2023, while Saskatchewan struggled, losing seven straight games and missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season. The Roughriders eventually parted ways with head coach Craig Dickenson, opening the door for Corey Mace’s tenure.

Under Maas, the Alouettes have continued to thrive. They posted the CFL’s best regular-season record last year and have now earned a second Grey Cup appearance, this time with a different quarterback leading the offense. On the other side, Saskatchewan has experienced its own resurgence, largely credited to Mace’s leadership. Now, the stage is set for a dramatic showdown between Maas’ Alouettes and Mace’s Riders in Winnipeg. The 112th Grey Cup will take place at Princess Auto Stadium on Sunday, November 16, with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. EST, offering a compelling narrative of redemption, resilience, and the ongoing evolution of two CFL franchises.