The Ottawa Redblacks have agreed to terms with American quarterback Jake Maier, per sources. Barring anything unforeseen, he’s expected to sign a one-year contract with the team.
The 28-year-old was 3DownNation’s top ranked pending free agent quarterback who made it to the communication window.
Maier dressed all 18 regular-season games for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2025 as the backup to Trevor Harris. He completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 617 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The six-foot, 200-pound QB produced a 1-1 win-loss record in two starts, though it’s worth noting he did not finish his Week 20 start against Winnipeg as Jack Coan entered in the fourth quarter.
The six-foot, 200-pound Fullerton, California native started 15 games for the Calgary Stampeders in 2024, completing 72.3 percent of his passes for 3,841 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. He went 5-9-1 as a starter as the team missed the playoffs for the first time in 20 years.
Maier signed his first professional contract with Calgary in 2020 and played meaningful snaps as a rookie in 2021, eventually unseating Bo Levi Mitchell as the team’s starting quarterback. He has finished his tenure with the Stamps throwing for 11,685 yards, 60 touchdowns, and 39 interceptions.
Ottawa general manager and head coach Ryan Dinwiddie was in Cowtown when the Stampeders scouted Maier, but he left to became the Toronto Argonauts head coach prior to him signing with the team. Maier gives the Redblacks a proven backup behind starter Dru Brown.
Pending CFL free agents can negotiate with teams across the league during the communication window, which closes on Sunday, February 8. Players can agree to terms on a contract with a particular franchise, however, the deals are not legally binding and can’t be made official until after free agency opens on Tuesday, February 10.
