CFL.ca Staff

VANCOUVER -- After being released by the Argos earlier today, the BC Lions announced that Jarious Jackson will sign a one-day contract with the team later in the week in order to retire as a Leo and will then join the coaching staff as quarterbacks coach.

“Jarious has long been thought of as a very talented quarterback with a very gifted football mind,” said head coach Mike Benevides. “His playing experience will be a tremendous asset to Jacques Chapdelaine and the offensive coaches as well as our players.”

Jackson comes off a championship season with the Toronto Argonauts in 2012 and now rejoins the Lions after a playing career in BC that spanned the 2005 to 2011 campaigns.

“I’m thrilled to be coming back to BC and I am very grateful to Mike Benevides for the opportunity to join the club as a coach,” said Jackson from his vacation spot in Mexico. “I have enjoyed a wonderful playing career and I’m excited about the next phase of my football life.”  

The Notre Dame grad dressed for all 18 regular season games last season with four starts, throwing for a total of 846 yards on 135 completions and four touchdowns for the Double Blue. Jackson now turns the page on an eight-year CFL career which includes three Grey Cup championships and 7,878 passing yards.

Benevides confirms 2013 staff

The addition of Jackson and the departure of receivers coach Travis Moore will be the only changes to the club’s 2013 coaching staff as announced by Benevides.

On defence, the Leos will be led by coordinator Rich Stubler, secondary coach Mark Washington and defensive line coach Carl Hairston. On offence, coordinator Jacques Chapdelaine is joined once again by offensive line coach Dan Dorazio and running backs coach Kelly Bates while special teams coordinator Chuck McMann also returns.

“I am pleased in knowing that the men responsible for much of our on-field success last season will be part of our plan moving forward. It’s important to me to have a stable blend of experience and youth on both sides of the ball and I believe we have one of the top coaching staffs in the league,” added Benevides. “Their ability to teach our players while simultaneously demanding excellence and accountability is unmatched.”

Collectively, the Lions staff has won 19 Grey Cup championships spanning three decades of coaching.

The hiring of Jackson marks the fourth former Lion to go directly from the playing ranks to the meeting room since 2007, including current defensive backs coach Mark Washington, running backs coach Kelly Bates and former defensive assistant Barron Miles who now coaches in Saskatchewan.

Jarious Jackson will sign a one-day contract with the team later in the week in order to retire as a Leo and will then join the coaching staff as quarterbacks coach.