Photo: Reuben Polansky/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

A.J. Ouellette admitted he’s never 100 percent sure about continuing his playing career following the end to a season.

“It’s tough to walk away from football. I would love to play until I’m 50, but that ain’t going to happen. As a running back, the body hurts, and I want to be able to move well when I’m older,” Ouellette said.

“Thinking about retirement [happened] even in college. You’re always dreading the day you have to walk away from this game. I’ve always thought about it, and I’ve always wanted to play as long as possible.”

The 30-year-old set single-season career highs with 248 carries for 1,222 rushing yards and scored eight touchdowns on the ground in 2025. He added 35 receptions for 250 yards with one major. That production provided value for Saskatchewan as the highest-paid American running back in the three-down league.

Ouellette had 17 carries for 113 yards along with two catches for 13 yards in the Roughriders’ 24-21 West Final win. He ran 17 times for 83 yards and one touchdown in the 112th Grey Cup victory while hauling in one pass for 32 yards. That totals 241 offensive yards in two playoff games for No. 45, who now has two CFL championship rings.

“If I’m playing, this is the place to be. I was told when I got to Toronto, ‘If you get a chance to play in Sask, take it because it’s an experience you won’t ever forget,’” Ouellette said.

“But when it comes to football, you take the offseason, relax for a little bit and see what the best next step is for you and the family.”

The five-foot-eight, 208-pound back enters the offseason as a pending free agent, but it’s clear he would like to remain in Green and White. Ouellette wants Trevor Harris, who has an expiring contract as well, to run it back with the Riders for multiple seasons.

“Two more. I don’t know why everybody is saying one more; the dude’s playing like he’s 25. Trevor should win one here,” Ouellette said, referencing the fact that Saskatchewan hosts the 2027 Grey Cup at Mosaic Stadium.

Based on comments in the past, it’s safe to assume that if Harris does return as QB1 for the Roughriders, he would want Ouellette alongside him.

Saskatchewan finished first in the West Division for the first time since 2019 with a 12-6 record in 2025. The Riders went on to defeat the Montreal Alouettes in the 112th Grey Cup at Princess Auto Stadium, marking the team’s first title in 12 years. Harris went 11-5 as a starter, throwing for 4,549 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 16 regular-season starts.

The Roughriders ranked second in net offence, second in net defence, and tied for third with a plus-eight turnover differential. The team’s leading rusher was Ouellette with 1,222 yards, the leading receiver was KeeSean Johnson with 1,159 yards, and the leading tackler was A.J. Allen with 91 tackles. Saskatchewan finished second in attendance with average crowds of 28,427, which was a 2.7 percent increase from the previous year.