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

Running back A.J. Ouellette is thrilled to be back with the Saskatchewan Roughriders after signing a one-year contract extension for 2026, though it’s clear the negotiation process was far from a cakewalk.

“It’s a business, so the first (contract offer) is never going to work for anyone and, of course, we had to wait for all the superstars to sign — get all of them out of the way before they reach out to me. It felt like I was waiting forever. It had me sweating, but it worked out and I’m excited to be here,” Ouellette told the media on Monday.

“You get that first offer and you just go hit a 20-minute workout session to kinda get your anger out, but then you have to sit down and be like, ‘It is a business, he’s trying to get a running back for as cheap as he can.’

“(The negotiating process included) working in what I think is fair, talking to other people that have been through the negotiation thing, talking with Trevor (Harris), talking to people in the community, and eventually getting to where you want to be. The first number, it gets to you a little bit — like, is that really what I’m worth? But that’s not how they see it — like I said, it’s a business.”

The 30-year-old said Saskatchewan’s coaching staff expressed interest in bringing him back during exit interviews after the Grey Cup, though they were seemingly aware the interest was mutual, which meant negotiations started late. The team extended over 20 pending free agents before Ouellette’s deal got done, including Harris, Samuel Emilus, KeeSean Johnson, Kian Schaffer-Baker, Mike Rose, Jermarcus Hardrick, and Tevaughn Campbell.

“They said, ‘Be patient, someone’s going to reach out,’” said Ouellette, who serves as his own agent. “I think they knew I didn’t want to leave, so they could push it back and try to get everybody else first, talk Trevor into not retiring and all that.”

The five-foot-eight, 210-pound ball-carrier struggled in his first season with the Roughriders in 2024 but dropped weight for 2025 and played brilliantly, rushing for 1,222 yards, catching 35 passes for 250 yards, and scoring nine touchdowns. He per-carry average of 4.9 yards would have been higher had he not been tasked with short-yardage duties for part of the season.

Ouellette spoke glowingly about the Roughriders as a whole but his most important connection is with Trevor Harris, the team’s veteran quarterback and a fellow Ohio native.

“I love (head) coach (Corey) Mace, the coaching staff’s awesome. The whole locker room is amazing, but the bond that me and Trevor have developed over the two years (was a big reason to sign back),” said Ouellette.

“The way everything’s ran here — front office, supporting staff, (the media) — it’s a true professional feel, and then being able to just go out in the community and feel like you’re impacting someone’s life. I get stopped at Walmart and that five-minute conversation I would have with someone, and (the fan) says it made their whole month, their whole year. It just makes you feel good.”

Ouellette indicated that veteran linebacker Jameer Thurman reached out to him after his extension, joking that the offence will need to score 40 points per game in 2026.

Saskatchewan retained virtually its entire Grey Cup-winning offence, save for Dohnte Meyers, who departed for the NFL, and Tommy Nield and Trevon Tate, who may not have been in the starting lineup if it weren’t for injuries elsewhere. Tate remains a pending free agent, while Nield agreed to terms with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The same can’t be said for the defensive side of the ball. Malik Carney, Habakkuk Baldonado, A.J. Allen, and C.J. Reavis all agreed to terms with new teams for 2026, while Micah Johnson retired to join Saskatchewan’s coaching staff. Mace and Josh Bell, who was promoted to the role of defensive coordinator earlier this offseason, will have their work cut out for them with several new faces in the lineup later this year.

Ouellette indicated that he’s continued to change the way he trains, taking the lead of Harris, who will turn 40 in May. The running back got down to 203 pounds after the season and is looking to start training camp at 210 to 215, then bulk up to 220 pounds for the playoffs to prepare for the cold.

The native of Covington, Ohio considered testing the CFL’s free-agent communications window but decided not to do so once the Roughriders made what he considered a “respectful offer.” He indicated the deal is worth “pretty much” the same as he earned in 2025, which was around $160,000.

“You don’t get to play that long and I feel like for my career, this is where it needs to be right now,” said Ouellette. “One day, a new running back’s going to step in and take my spot, and a few years after that, I’ll just be a picture — a Grey Cup picture on someone’s wall, so I’m just going to enjoy it while I have it.”