They’ve been teammates and co-workers, and now they’ve been reunited in Toronto.
The paths of Kevin Eiben and Jason Shivers first crossed in 2007 when the two were teammates in Toronto; Eiben, an established star linebacker, Shivers, a defensive back who was a newcomer to Canada after stints in the NFL and NFL Europe.
They’d wear Double Blue together for three seasons before Shivers signed a free-agent deal in 2010 down the QEW in Hamilton, where Eiben would join him a year later for one last season together as athletes.
They’re together again, but the two did reconnect outside of football between their playing and coaching careers.
“I actually used to work with him,” recalled Eiben for Argonauts.ca. “I owned a gym, and he was one of my trainers when I owned SST Oakville. Then he started his own business, and his cleaning business was helping out at my facilities. We go way back, it’s great to get back together with him.”
Coaching was in Eiben’s blood. After hanging up his cleats for good he started paying his dues by coaching at both McMaster and the University of Toronto before getting an opportunity with the Argos, where he’s been since 2017.
Shivers knew Eiben was destined for the profession because he was essentially a coach on the field during their playing days. But it took some time for the Phoenix native to realize that his future also involved a headset.
“I didn’t know as a player, it definitely came after,” Shivers admitted to Argonauts.ca. “Probably about a year after when I was working with some young kids in different sports, doing some training, then started helping with football and that burning desire came back to me. I was a little bit bitter when football was over (as a player) and it was dang, it’s time to actually move on.”
Shivers started his coaching career with the Argos in 2013, spending a season in Double Blue as an assistant before moving on to Edmonton and Saskatchewan, where he would eventually become the defensive coordinator for both teams.
He’s now in a co-coordinator role, but is certain the situation in Toronto will be successful.
“It’s going to work well,” Shivers said. “Even when I was a D.C. I always took input from my guys (staff). No ego here. Some people will see different things, even players coming off the field. As a play caller I don’t have a big ego so it’s not about me, it’s about we.”
Eiben is used to the role, having worked with Will Fields in the same capacity before the latter took a job as the D.C. in Ottawa. It worked, and in a couple of weeks Eiben will be presented with a ring to prove it.
The plan is to achieve that success again with a new dance partner in Shivers.
“The first thing we want to do is to KYP (know your personnel),” said Eiben. “Once we get to know these guys better we’ll adjust what we’re going to call to our talent level. Then we’ll work on who is going to do the play calling when the season comes.”
Eiben will once again work with the linebackers, while Shivers takes over the secondary.
For the latter it’s learning a new group of athletes, most of whom have the ability to play multiple positions on the back end.
“It’s really enjoyable to see the competition level,” said Shivers. “There are going to be tough decisions, unfortunately that’s the nature of the game. The pieces are slowly falling into place. The field takes care of itself, the game takes care of itself, and I prep these guys to play every position, that’s the way we approach it.”
The defensive backs room got smaller with two players being released on Tuesday. It still leaves Shivers and Eiben a lot of talent to work with, not only in the secondary, but with the entire group.
It’s all a part of the longtime friends’ goal to win a Grey Cup together, something they were unable to do as players, but are anxious to do as co-coordinators.
ARGO NOTES: The club had to make several cuts to get down to 75 players, plus non-counters (2025 draft picks, those with Injured Veteran status, up to two players who either were not selected in this or last year’s draft or are junior football grads). Those released on Tuesday were receiver Mark Pope, offensive lineman Daniel Shin, defensive linemen Isaiah Chambers, Jalen Green, and Daymond Williams, defensive backs Armani Watts and Anthony Sao, and kicker Dawson Hodge…Players wore shoulder pads for the first time in camp, which led to some feisty one-on-ones between offensive and defensive linemen. In one rep, Derek Parish used a bull rush and drove his opponent back 10 yards in a straight line…A couple of unheralded receivers had nice sessions. Rookie Dontay Demus caught a couple of deep seam routes, while Derek Slywka also had some nice catches, including one while sliding after running a 25-yard route. He spent the last two months of 2024 on the Argos practice roster…Rookie quarterback Tucker Horn was finding his groove, throwing some crisp passes and showing off a strong arm…A reminder the Argos pre-season game in Guelph is May 30 and tickets are available HERE.