Receivers coach

CFL: 15th season
Stamps: 1st season

Howell is in his first season on the Stampeders staff and his 15th as a CFL coach.

He began his coaching career in 2011 as linebackers coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, his hometown team. The Bombers finished first in the East Division that year, allowed a division-low 432 points and reached the Grey Cup championship game.

Starting in 2012 and for a total of four seasons, Howell served as Winnipeg’s receivers coach. Under his tutelage, three different Blue Bombers pass-catchers – Clarence Denmark, Terrence Edwards and Chris Matthews – achieved 1,000-yard seasons and, in 2014, Denmark was a CFL and West Division all-star.

Howell was receivers coach for Saskatchewan in 2016 and 2017. In those two years, Roughriders receivers produced four 1,000-yard seasons including two by Naaman Roosevelt and one each by Duron Carter and Bakari Grant. Carter and Roosevelt were West Division all-stars in 2017 and Carter also earned CFL all-star recognition that season.

In 2018 and 2019, Howell was receivers coach and pass game coordinator of the BC Lions. Bryan Burnham was the standout of Howell’s receiving corps as he earned division and league all-star honours both seasons. He cracked the 1,000-yard milestone twice and had 100 catches in 2019.

Howell was receivers coach and pass game coordinator for the Toronto Argonauts in 2021. The Argos finished in first place in the East Division and one of Howell’s receivers – Kurleigh Gittens Jr. – earned division all-star recognition.

From 2022 to 2024, Howell served as receivers coach and run game coordinator for the Edmonton Elks. Kenny Lawler was a West Division all-star for the Elks in 2022 while Eugene Lewis was a 1,000-yard receiver as well as a division and league all-star in 2024.

During his 11-year playing career with Winnipeg (2000-04, 2010), the Ottawa Renegades (2005) and the Stampeders (2006-09) the versatile Howell saw action as a receiver, a defensive back and a kick returner. He was a member of the Stampeders’ Grey Cup championship team in 2008.

Prior to turning pro, Howell played football and ran track at Texas Southern University in Houston. He is an alumnus of Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute in Winnipeg.

Markus Howell’s Coaching History

2025 – Calgary Stampeders (CFL) – Receivers Coach
2022-24 – Edmonton Elks (CFL) – Receivers Coach and Run Game Coordinator
2020-21 – Toronto Argonauts (CFL) – Receivers Coach and Pass Game Coordinator
2018-19 – BC Lions (CFL) – Receivers Coach and Pass Game Coordinator
2016-17 – Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL) – Receivers Coach
2012-15 – Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) – Receivers Coach
2011 – Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) Linebackers Coach