The Eskimos didn’t waste any time going after quarterback Trevor Harris on the opening day of CFL free agency on Feb. 12, 2019.
With previous QB Mike Reilly having already decided to join the BC Lions, Eskimos General Manager & Vice President of Football Operations Brock Sunderland set his sights on Harris, a 32-year-old who had previously played with the Toronto Argonauts and Ottawa RedBlacks.
While Harris missed five games with an injury to his throwing arm last season, he still completed 71.8% of his passes (343 of 478) for 4,027 yards and 16 touchdowns in 13 regular-season starts and was chosen the Eskimos Most Outstanding Player. He also set a CFL playoff record with 22 consecutive completions and a completion percentage of 92.3 in the East Division Semifinal against the Montreal Alouettes.
The Eskimos recently extended Harris’ contract through the 2022 season.
“Trevor gives us a chance to win every game that he steps on the field and his leadership and dedication off the field are second to none,” Sunderland said.
Harris, who will be 34 when the regular season begins on June 11, was originally recruited to the CFL by new Head Coach Scott Milanovich in 2012. A seldom-used backup his first three years, Harris completed 382 passes for 4,354 yards and 33 touchdowns while filling in for an injured Ricky Ray in 2015.
He signed with the RedBlacks in 2016 as injury insurance for 41-year-old Henry Burris and played in 12 regular-season games, passing for 3,301 yards and 16 TDs, for the eventual Grey Cup champions.
Harris finally got a chance to actually play in a Grey Cup game in 2018, throwing for 288 yards at The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium, but the RedBlacks lost 27-16 to the Calgary Stampeders.
Now he’s trying to get the Eskimos back to the Grey Cup for the first time in five years.
Even though he was new to Edmonton last year, Harris and his wife, Kalie, came up with a plan to donate $300 to the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation for every game he passed for 300 or more yards.
“A big deal for me is childhood sickness and children’s hospital things,” said Harris, who had nine 300-plus games, including the playoffs, last year. “I want to be able to give back to kids.”
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