Coming out of the University of North Carolina, Darian Durant's CFL rights were initially held by the Ottawa Renegades.  When the Renegades folded, Durant's rights went to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and finally to Saskatchewan as part of trade that sent Corey Holmes to Hamilton.

It wasn't clear that the Riders really wanted or valued Durant after he signed with them as a free agent in May of 2006.  In that first season, Durant dressed for only 8 games and threw one pass.  In 2007, when the Riders went to the Grey Cup and won it, Durant dressed for all 18 games, but didn't throw a single pass as he held the clipboard o nthe sidelones.  With starting QB and Most OUtstanding Player in 2007, Kerry Joseph traded to Toronto for 2008, you would think Durant would get his chance.  But hile he did see some action with 129 pass attempts, the Riders were looking for a more experienced pivot and dealt for Michael Bishop from Toronto here two had become a crowd with him and Kerry Joseph.  2008 ended with the Riders getting a drubbing in the West semi-final in Regina from BC and Bishop was quickly ran out of town.

Durant was finally given the nod as the Rider starter in 2009 and led the Riders to the Grey Cup and what for a moment looked like a victory until the infamous too many men on the field penalty that gave Damon Duval a second chance to kick the game winning field goal.  Durant returned as the Rider starter in 2010 and again took the Riders to the Grey Cup, thowing for 5542 yards in the regular season.  For the secondstraight year, howerer, the Riders came up short in the Grey Cup with Durant throwing an interception late in the game as the Riders attempted a last minute drive for the win.  2011 was an forgettable year for both Durant and the Riders.  The team got off to a terrible start under new head coach Greg Marshal and rumours abounded that Durant wasn't hitting it off with the new offensive coordinator.

Thearrival of Cory Chamblin as head coach in 2012 helped to revive both Durant and the Riders as the team returned to the playoffs, but lost in the West semi-final on a last minute blown coverage against Calgary.  Withhe Grey Cup in Regina for 2013, there was a lot of pressure on both Durant and the Riders to win it on their home field and Durant certainly came through.  His 4154 yards passing was third in the CFL and maybe not that impressive compared to the 5000+ yards that are often associated with elite CFL quarterbacks, but the Riders used the ground game more than any other team in the league.  Durant's 31 touchdown passes were a career high and he ony threw 12 intercpetions as he won his second West All-Star selectioin.  Durant used his legs late i nthe semi-final against BC to lead the Riders to a victgory and then the green and white blew out Calgary in the West final and Hamilton to win the 2013 Grey Cup.