Chad Kelly Rejoins Toronto Argonauts After Suspension
Chad Kelly marked his return to the Toronto Argonauts on Sunday following his reinstatement by the Canadian Football League (CFL). Kelly's return comes after a suspension that was implemented on May 7, due to a violation of the CFL's gender-based violence policy. This suspension sidelined him for the Argos' two exhibition games and the first nine regular-season contests.
The CFL's decision followed an independent investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach, accusing Kelly of sexual harassment and the Argonauts of wrongful dismissal. The lawsuit concluded with a settlement in June through mediation.
As part of the suspension terms, Kelly was required to undergo comprehensive evaluations by an independent expert and attend counseling sessions with a gender-based violence specialist. Both assessments and counseling had to be satisfactorily completed for Kelly to be considered for reinstatement. The CFL confirmed it had received Kelly's confidential psychological assessment and reviewed the results with the assistance of experts before finalizing his return.
"I am sorry for my actions and the impact it has had on many people personally, the Toronto Argonauts, and the CFL," Kelly said. "I recognize that this is just one step in the process of bettering myself, but it is an important one, and I am committed to doing what is needed to be a better teammate, colleague, and person."
Upon his reinstatement, Kelly participated in Sunday's practice, taking approximately 70% of the starting offense snaps. Head coach Ryan Dinwiddie expressed optimism about Kelly's return, stating, "It was good to have him back. His teammates were excited to see him back in the building." Dinwiddie mentioned plans to increase Kelly's workload during Monday's practice sessions.
Toronto, currently holding a 5-4 record, is set to host Saskatchewan, who stands at 5-4-1, on Thursday night. Dinwiddie expressed caution regarding Kelly starting the game on Thursday, given his limited practice time and absence from training camp. Kelly is expected to potentially split reps with the Argos' other quarterbacks, Cameron Dukes, and veteran Nick Arbuckle.
Kelly's return marks the end of a period of absence since Toronto's loss to Montreal in last year's East Division final. During his suspension, Kelly maintained his distance from the team and abstained from speaking to the media upon his return. Reflecting on Kelly’s impact, it is noteworthy that he led the team to a league-best and franchise-record 16-2 record last season, a journey that ended with a 38-17 home loss to eventual Grey Cup champions, Montreal, in the East Division final.
Argonauts General Manager Mike Clemons expressed a combination of support and caution regarding Kelly's reinstatement. "This is an important step for Chad, who has taken full accountability for his actions and represents just the beginning of his ongoing commitment to bettering himself and learning from this experience," Clemons said. "There continues to be much work to do to strengthen our team culture, and we are all committed with Chad's return, to work on this together, as a team."
Kelly, whose football journey includes stints at Clemson, East Mississippi Community College, and Mississippi during his college years, was the last pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, selected by the Denver Broncos. However, his tenure with the Broncos was short-lived as he was released in 2018 following an arrest for criminal trespassing.
With Kelly back on the field, all eyes will be on the Argonauts to see how they integrate their once-star quarterback into the lineup and how he performs after a prolonged absence. The coming games will be crucial not only for Kelly but also for the Argonauts as they aim to build on their current record and push for a strong finish to the season.