Following their 1956 campaign, tragedy struck the Roughriders franchise when four members of the team were killed in a plane crash on December 9, 1956, while returning from the Canadian Football Council (CFC) All Star Game in Vancouver.
In 1965 after one year as the offensive coordinator, Eagle Keys became the head coach of the Roughriders and guided them to a 8-7-1 record and an appearance in the western semi final which they lost to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 15-9.