Sophomore Trevor Lawrence, who was voted No. 1 in 2021, is well established as a Jaguars starter. However, Trestman, a former head coach in the NFL as well as in the CFL with the Montreal Alouettes, among others, believes that Rourke will benefit not only from being able to watch Lawrence, but also from the lessons he will receive as head coach Doug Pederson and his Assistants Mike McCoy and Henry Burris, all former professional quarterbacks.

I think he’s in the right place with Doug, Trevor, Henry Burris and Mike McCoy, Trestman said. I think it’s a very good place for a quarterback.

“I looked at Nathan Rourke and he’s a great quarterback,” he continued. Because of the movements on the line and the cadences executed, I think it’s a lot more difficult to play this position in the CFL than in the NFL. I see him as a quarterback with remarkable skills. He is very precise, can move and can be easily noticed. It was not for nothing that he had 12 training sessions. Rourke is a talented player who has played in Canada and has shown he can handle himself.

The six-foot-tall, 209-pound athlete was named Canadian Player of the Year by the CFL despite only playing ten games following surgery for a Lisfranc sprain in his right foot. Still, Rourke completed 255 passes on 324 attempts for a CFL-high 78.7 percent save percentage. He had 3,349 yards and 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The quarterback also had 304 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

Trestman certainly knows what quarterback’s role is like. His track record includes stints in the NCAA, NFL, CFL, and XFL, as quarterbacks or running backs coach, consultant, offensive coordinator, assistant coach, head coach, and general manager.

Trestman notes that both Lawrence and Pederson learned valuable lessons from the Jaguars’ spectacular 31-30 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday. Lawrence had four first-half interceptions before helping the team reverse a 27-0 deficit.

What Trevor Lawrence taught young quarterbacks was to play one game at a time, Trestman said. You don’t let your mistakes bother you, you don’t think too far ahead and you don’t listen to the voices in your head. This is a sign of great mental strength.

What Lawrence had to do is the same as what Pederson had to do. Just call one game at a time and see how things go. Having a coach who has played that position, successfully coached quarterbacks and won a Super Bowl is invaluable.

Rourke’s experience in the CFL will certainly come in handy.

“I’ve always said that the difference between some CFL players and some NFL players is extremely small,” Trestman added. It’s about being in the right place with the right people and sometimes being able to play on the special teams. For example, if you can’t play on special teams and you’re a third or fourth receiver, you won’t make the team, for example.