'I want to win football games': Cody Fajardo inks 2-year extension with Saskatchewan Roughriders
Terms of the deal were not released but Fajardo will be in Sask. at least until 2021
Not long ago, Cody Fajardo didn't know if he would still be playing professional football beyond 2019.
The quarterback has some stability now. He will call Mosaic Stadium home after signing a two-year contract extension with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, announced on Monday.
"It was a no-brainer for me. I never wanted to test free agent waters. I never wanted to look into playing down south," he said.
Fajardo said he had been living off of one-year deals for a few years prior and didn't know if the current season would be his last.
He arrived in Saskatchewan as a free agent, after a season with the B.C. Lions in 2018 and another two years with the Toronto Argonauts before that.
"I knew that there would be an opportunity [in Sask.]. I don't know how many people have gone to a third stringer to a franchise guy in a little over year," Fajardo said.
"It feels good to know that there's still more football in my life."
Riders general manager Jeremy O'Day said negotiations began a few months ago but only got serious within the last couple weeks. For Fajardo, securing a contract was a top priority.
"I want to win football games and that's what I'm here to do," Fajardo said, adding that winning games means contract talks heat up.
O'Day said Fajardo is respected in the locker room and has always put the team first.
"The attributes he has off the field is one thing but on the field — he shows up in the big times, when we need a big play, when we need to have a drive, he responds and is able to lead the team to score," O'Day said.
"That's something that's not easily coached."
The quarterback came to the green and white as a free agent and has played 16 games with the squad.
Fajardo has a 11-5 record and has thrown for more than 3,800 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also has 610 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.
The Riders next game is on the road against the Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday.