Marquay McDaniel, who joined the Roughriders as the Receivers Coach on Jan. 15, 2024, is now preparing for this third season with the Green and White.

In his first year with the Green and White, McDaniel led a group that recorded 5,019 receiving yards and scored the third-most receiving touchdowns (27) in the CFL. 

McDaniel coached Samuel Emilus to his second consecutive season with 1,000-plus receiving yards. Emilus caught 87 passes for 1,064 yards and five TDs in 2024, when he was third in the league in targets (132) and yards after catch (439). He was a first-time West All-Star and the Roughriders’ candidate for Most Outstanding Canadian. 

The Roughriders’ passing game was productive in 2024 even though nine different receivers started at the five positions due to injuries. 

Then came 2025, when a strong receiving corps helped the Roughriders win the fifth Grey Cup championship in franchise history. Two second-year Roughriders — KeeSean Johnson and Dohnte Meyers — exceeded 1,000 receiving yards. Johnson earned All-CFL honours and Meyers was a divisional selection.

Before beginning his coaching career, McDaniel suited up for 133 career regular-season CFL games, spent with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2009 to 2011, plus 2018) and Calgary Stampeders (2012 to 2017). Over 10 seasons as a CFL player, he caught 562 passes for 7,366 yards and 27 touchdowns. In 2013, he was named a CFL All-Star and recorded his first of three 1,000-yard seasons as a Stampeder. He helped Calgary win a Grey Cup title in 2014. 

McDaniel began his coaching career in 2018, mentoring receivers with the Hamilton-based McMaster Marauders. One of those receivers was Tommy Nield, who caught the game-winning touchdown pass for Saskatchewan in the 2025 Western Final. When the Tiger-Cats’ receiving corps was ravaged by injuries, he returned to the field and caught eight passes for 65 yards in four games. 

He then coached receivers in the CFL with the Montreal Alouettes (2019) and the Stampeders (2020 to 2022).