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The Saskatchewan Roughriders will bring back the best in the CFL along the offensive line in 2026.
Jermarcus Hardrick has signed a one-year contract extension to keep him in Saskatchewan for the upcoming season. Hardrick joined the Riders before the 2024 season after spending a few years in Winnipeg, where he won Grey Cups with the Bombers in 2019 and 2021.
Read more:
- CFL unveils 2026 schedule, with Riders’ home opener set for June 13
- The sheriff is back: Riders sign QB Trevor Harris to contract extension
- Riders’ players look to keep band together for 2026 CFL season
The Batesville, Miss., product missed most of the 2024 season due to a leg injury, but bounced back in a big way this year. Hardrick, 35, stayed healthy and played in 17 regular-season games for the Riders. He was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman at the CFL awards, and just a few days later he raised the Grey Cup for the third time in his career.
Hardrick will once again look to keep quarterback Trevor Harris upright for the 2026 season. Harris, 39, signed a contract extension last week to stay on with the Riders.
Hardrick and the rest of the Riders’ offensive line were a big part of the team’s 25-17 win over the Montreal Alouettes in the Grey Cup. They didn’t allow a single sack while Harris completed 85.2 per cent of his passes for 302 yards, setting a new Grey Cup completion record in the process. They also cleared the way for running back AJ Ouellette, who rushed 17 times in the championship game for 83 yards and a touchdown.
That group also didn’t allow a sack in the team’s win over the B.C. Lions in the CFL West Final.
Hardrick was on the field for 976 offensive snaps during the regular season — including 100 per cent of the snaps for which he was available.
The offensive line helped the Riders put together one of the best ground attacks in the CFL, with Ouellette amassing 1,222 yards and eight touchdowns during the regular season.
According to a release from the Riders, Hardrick allowed just 17 total pressures on 579 pass-blocking snaps.
Hardrick’s excellence was consistently recognized throughout the year. He was the Roughriders’ top-rated offensive lineman in all seven games that earned the unit top billing on the CFL Honour Roll. He was also Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded offensive lineman for both June and October. He capped the season by being named Pro Football Focus’ First Team Right Tackle, awarded to the top-graded player at the position across the entire CFL.
Hardrick is a four-time divisional All-CFL pick (2017, 2021, 2023, 2025) as well as a three-time All-CFLer (2021, 2023, 2025).
He played his college football with the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. He signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent following the 2012 NFL Draft and played in three pre-season games. He also spent time on the New Orleans Saints’ practice roster in 2012.
