Saskatchewan Roughriders’ general manager Jeremy O’Day reveals head coach Corey Mace transfer stance if he is leaving the team or not

Saskatchewan Roughriders general manager Jeremy O’Day has delivered a firm message: head coach Corey Mace isn’t going anywhere.

O’Day, 51, addressed reports that the Toronto Argonauts had requested permission to interview Mace for their head coaching vacancy and other potential responsibilities. According to O’Day, those rumours were unfounded.

“The Argonauts never contacted us. No one asked for permission, so I’m not sure where that talk started. When we heard about it, Corey immediately told us he had no interest in leaving — but to be clear, Toronto never reached out,” O’Day explained.

Mace, who guided the Riders to a Grey Cup title this season, signed a two-year extension in October that keeps him under contract through 2028.

The Roughriders capped a remarkable campaign by finishing first in the West Division for the first time since 2019, posting a 12–6 record. They went on to defeat the Montreal Alouettes in the 112th Grey Cup at Princess Auto Stadium, securing the franchise’s first championship in 12 years.

Quarterback Trevor Harris led the way with an 11–5 record as a starter, throwing for 4,549 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Saskatchewan also excelled statistically, ranking second in both net offence and net defence while finishing tied for third in turnover differential at plus-eight.

A.J. Ouellette rushed for 1,222 yards, KeeSean Johnson led the receiving corps with 1,159 yards, and linebacker A.J. Allen topped the team with 91 tackles. Fan support also surged, as Saskatchewan finished second in league attendance with an average of 28,427 — a 2.7 percent rise from the previous year.

Sources indicate that CFL clubs must observe a 10-day post-season window before approaching Grey Cup champions for coaching interviews, a step that never took place. Even so, those close to the situation confirm that Mace made it clear privately that he had no intention of entertaining outside offers.

During Grey Cup week in Winnipeg, Mace was asked by whether he had ambitions to pursue a general manager role in the future. He responded that he hadn’t considered it, noting he is still early in his head-coaching career.

The 39-year-old has now won his first championship as a head coach after defeating Montreal 25–17 for the Riders’ fifth Grey Cup title. In just two seasons at the helm, Mace has compiled a 21-14-1 record with Saskatchewan, along with a 3–1 mark in the postseason.