Jarriel King and his family find new home with Roughriders

You might have already seen Jarriel King’s son, Josiah.

He’s the little guy leading the team in dancing and dabbing after Sunday’s win at Mosaic Stadium.

It’s just one of the ways Saskatchewan is feeling like home for King’s entire family.

King came to the Roughriders in a trade from Toronto in December and he and his wife, Taija, moved their four children to Regina.

“I got that much faith in being here,” King said in an interview on Thursday.

King was brought in despite being injured in an October game and not playing for the rest of the season. In fact, he made his Roughrider debut on Sunday’s game against Edmonton and his family saw him play football for the very first time as a pro.

“That was magical for me and for them,” he said. But even more magical is the family that he’s found within the walls of the locker room, not just for King himself, but for all of his kids too.

After the game, his children were able to go into the locker room to celebrate with the team. One watched excitedly as “Uncle Curtis” (Steele) was interviewed by a throng of reporters after his return to the lineup.

King and Steele were close from back when they played in Toronto together.

“At one point we were like ‘if you go, I’m going too,’” King said, which in the end was exactly what happened. Just months after King was traded to Saskatchewan, Steele signed a free agent contract to come here too. 

“I think we will stick together no matter what until he’s at the end of his role or I’m at the end of mine,” King said.

But it’s not just Steele that has grown attached to his family. King said the entire locker room has been incredibly welcoming and it started at the top with Chris Jones.

“It just felt like (the kids) fit right in. It was just okay, rather than ‘just stand by daddy’s locker’. It was more so like ‘hey, you’re family too,’” he said.

It must have been that comfort that inspired nine-year-old Josiah to start dabbing with the team.

“I didn’t expect him to do it, it wasn’t planned it wasn’t rehearsed. It just kind fit the vibe and everyone went along with him,” King said, adding since Josiah has seen the video of him on social media he’s been grinning from ear to ear.

“(It) can’t get no better than that. My kids loved it. That’s an experience that not everyone gets to have and some kids look at it like ‘wow that kid just danced in the locker room’. My kids might not look at it like that because they don’t understand maybe, but it’s a blessing. It’s a total blessing.”

ICYMI: Look at my dab!! @Rel_Fargo‘s son brought some serious moves out following the #Riders win! #CFL pic.twitter.com/0GGITuf9x1

— Sask. Roughriders (@sskroughriders) September 19, 2016