How Jake Maier unseated Dru Brown as starting QB for Ottawa Redblacks

New starting Ottawa quarterback Jake Maier seen while with the Saskatchewan Roughriders last season. Photo by Michelle Berg /Saskatoon StarPhoenix

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Nine days before the Ottawa Redblacks 2026 season opener — and about 31 hours before their preseason finale at TD Place — Jake Maier was officially declared the team’s new No. 1 quarterback.

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He replaces Dru Brown, Ottawa’s QB1 for the past two seasons.

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“Jake’s going to be our starter moving forward,”  head coach/GM Ryan Dinwiddie said after Thursday’s practice. “I told Dru and Jake that about four days ago, and just wanted to get Jake going. We feel like he’s the starting quarterback. Let’s not wait to announce it.”

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Maier, who started 45 games over four seasons with the Calgary Stampeders (2021-24) and two more with the Saskatchewan Roughriders last year, signed as a free agent with the Redblacks in February.

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The 29-year-old Californian made an impressive debut in last week’s 27-12 preseason opener in Montreal, completing 10-of-14 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns while working the first quarter and just one drive into the second before getting the rest of the night off.

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Had a good camp

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“Jake’s had a good camp,” said Dinwiddie. “Obviously, he solidified (the spot) a little bit last week. I thought he played well against Montreal’s one unit. I think he’s throwing the football well. He’s moving better than he has in the past. He did a great job this offseason, really training his body.

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“We need to get him some more reps with the (first team offence), so that was our decision.”

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Brown has shown flashes of brilliance and strong leadership skills since moving to the nation’s capital from Winnipeg as a free agent in 2024.

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But he’s also had trouble staying healthy and was able to start just half of the team’s games last season.

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Dinwiddie acknowledged the difficulty in telling the 29-year-old Brown he’d been demoted.

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“It’s tough,” said Dinwiddie, a former QB himself. “It’s never easy to make that decision, and it’s never easy to hear the decision. It’s unfortunate that at the quarterback position, only one guy plays. I’ve been (a backup) before. It’s not a good feeling, because now you’re waiting for an injury or bad performance to get on the field.

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“He took it pretty well. Obviously disappointed, just as any competitor should be. But he’s handling it like a pro. Jake’s handling it like a pro, too. They’re both working well together.”

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Brown, who did not make the trip to Montreal last week, will get his first game action with Dinwiddie’s offence when he replaces Maier at some point in Friday’s exhibition.

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Any frustration he felt upon learning that he’d been relegated to the No. 2 role was not evident as he met with the media four days later

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“I’m happy for Jake,” said Brown, before talking about the competition they’ve had during camp. “He’s a great player. I feel the same about myself. You leave it up to the head man to decide. ”