Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive coordinator Marc Mueller and quarterback Trevor Harris never have a bad thing to say about each other in public, which is a distinct departure from their private relationship.
“Marc never gives me compliments to my face, so it’s good to know that he believes in me,” Harris joked during a recent appearance on 620 CKRM’s The SportsCage. “If you heard our conversations face-to-face, it’s mostly about how ugly each other are. He asked me today if I actually paid for this haircut; it’s just constantly ribbing each other.”
Beneath all the jokes and outward disrespect, there is a special relationship forged between the passer and playcaller who fueled the Riders to their first Grey Cup title in 12 years.
Nearing 40 years old with 16 years of pro football experience under his belt, Harris considers Mueller to be in a category unto himself amongst his long list of former coaches.
“Never in my life have I been on the same page as much as I have with Coach Mueller. He’s truly one of one in terms of his mind for the game,” the QB shared. “He’s hyper-intelligent. He’s always a step ahead, and the thing that’s really cool about Marc is that he’s open to suggestions from myself. He’s told me several times, ‘That’s an earned thing. I don’t just listen to anybody that’s going to tell me things.’”
Mueller was hired by Saskatchewan ahead of the 2024 season, bringing him back to his hometown of Regina and the franchise where his grandfather, Ron Lancaster, became a legend.
The longtime Calgary Stampeders assistant had handled some playcalling duties before, but had them revoked by head coach Dave Dickenson. It was also noted that he was three years younger than Harris, raising questions about who would hold the balance of power between the veteran signal caller and first-time coordinator.
That has never been an issue in two seasons since. In 2025, a healthy Harris helped Mueller’s offence finish second in total yardage, and there was no debate as to who had the final say in their collaboration.
“As intelligent as he is, he knows when and when not to take suggestions,” Harris remarked. “There are times during a game or during the weekly prep, I’ll say, like, ‘Hey, do you mind if I see the concept this way and read it this way?’ And he’ll go, ‘Yeah, let’s do it that way. I like that. It’ll tie to your footwork better. Blah, blah, blah.’ And then there are times where I’ll ask him, and he’ll say, ‘No, no, no, no, this is how I want you to read it.’ It tells you that he’s got a plan for everything, and there are certain plays where he listens. It’s really cool to have that sort of a relationship with him.”
With such high praise coming from a potential Hall of Famer, it is little wonder that Mueller is viewed as a potential future head coaching candidate. However, he has said he plans to stay in Saskatchewan as long as he can, keeping that special connection with Harris intact for at least another season.
