Former Saskatchewan Roughriders running back Jamal Morrow explained why he retired from the CFL.
"I didn't have the drive to train no more. With football, you got to be able to go all in, you can't have one leg in, one leg out. I've had a great career, no regrets at all. I went out on my own terms, not having to reach out to a team or anything like that, I want to be done," Morrow told The SportsCage.
"For me, it was a perfect transition in my life. Other opportunities popped up and that's the main reason why I'm super excited. I will be coaching and still be involved in football. I'm super excited."
Morrow started his CFL career with the Green and White in 2019 on the practice roster. He played eight games for the Riders in 2021 and accumulated 41 rushing yards on nine carries. One play he remembers fondly from his rookie season was when he returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown in the he West Semi-Final. Saskatchewan won that game against the Calgary Stampeders 33-30.
"I caught the ball, I didn't think I was gonna break it. Let me get 5 to 10 yards. I bounce off the tackle, and I'm like: 'Oh wait, let's go.' The next thing, I look at the end zone, I'm thinking in my head: 'We finally got it,'" Morrow recalled. "I'll never forget that one, hearing the crowd, it was awesome."
Morrow kept the football from that playoff win over the Stamps.
"I still have it hanging up in the house, it's not going nowhere," Morrow said.
After Morrow's rookie season, he stayed with the Green and White through the 2023 season. In 2024, he tried to sign with the Stampeders in free agency, however he failed his physical and was unable to make the team. Later during the 2024 season, Morrow signed with the Ottawa Redblacks, where he played one game and rushed for seven yards on two carries.
Overall, Morrow totalled 1,621 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns in his CFL career. The Washington State University graduate did his research about Regina before joining the Riders.
"I couldn't even say it right," Morrow explained. "I remember going to the airport and saying I'm looking for 'Regena.' She goes: 'Oh, you mean Regina.' I actually knew what the city was called. I looked it up and I saw skyscrapers. I'm like: 'OK, this is gonna be a pretty big city, at least from what it looks like.' I got there, I'm like: 'Oh, it's very small.' It was an easy transition coming from Washington State to going to Regina."
George Reed was another famous running back who went to Washington State and played for the Roughriders.
"It was awesome to meet him, chop it up with him, see how important he was to Saskatchewan and the CFL in general," Morrow said.
Morrow knows the United States equivalent to Saskatchewan.
"I always called it like the Kansas of Canada, that's how I describe it," Morrow explained. "I love the people there, It was a great time. They showed a lot of love and passion and are very prideful people."
