Riders’ QB Trevor Harris was going to retire from pro football until Argos called in 2012

Veteran quarterback Trevor Harris almost never played in the Canadian Football League.

He accepted a job as offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Edinboro University in 2012.

“I was going to retire. I was tired of the washing machine of pro football. I was a part of a players’ strike, leagues folding, the NFL strike, backup in arena football — I had my fill of it all,” Harris said.

The Waldo, Ohio native signed with the Jaguars as an undrafted NFL free agent, however Jacksonville released him among final training camp cuts in 2010. Harris had stints with the Arena Football League’s Arizona Rattlers and Orlando Predators plus the United Football League’s Hartford Colonials. He agreed to terms on a contract with the Buffalo Bills but it was rescinded due to labour issues.

“I felt like God wouldn’t let me sleep a few nights in a row, I felt like he was telling me: ‘Give it one more go,'” Harris said.

Courtesy: AP Photo/Michael Perez

The six-foot-three, 212-pound Harris was on the Toronto Argonauts negotiation list and the team setup a workout with him.

“I went to a one-on-one tryout with the head coach, Scott Milanovich. We sat in the car and talked ball for about an hour-and-a-half, then we went in the gym and threw. He offered me a contract and I was like: ‘Try this one more time, see what happens,'” Harris said.

“I thought I was going to come up here for a few years to put some years playing professional football on my resume so I could coach. You blink an eye and here’s 13 years later in the CFL.”

The 38-year-old has completed 70.7 percent of his passes for 31,111 yards with 169 touchdowns and 78 interceptions while playing professionally in Canada. Only 20 players in league history have passed for over 30,000 yards.

“Grateful that the Argonauts brought me in to begin with,” Harris said. “And here we are. I’m thankful for my journey.”