The CFL has reinstated Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly with conditions, the league announced Sunday morning.
The decision comes after the league on May 7 suspended Kelly, the CFL’s outstanding player last season, for Toronto’s two exhibition games and first nine regular-season contests for violating the league’s gender-based violence policy.
“The Canadian Football League (CFL) has reinstated Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly on a last-chance agreement provided that he continues to meet a number of ongoing conditions,” the league said in a statement.
“The ongoing mandatory conditions surrounding Mr. Kelly’s reinstatement reflect the need for him to demonstrate a continued commitment to upholding league standards.”
The league said the conditions are confidential and will not be disclosed.
Kelly will rejoin the Argos on Sunday and participate in his first practice with the team.
He’ll be eligible to play for the Argos (5-4) on Thursday night when they host the Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-4-1).
The suspension followed an independent investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both Kelly and the Argos.
The lawsuit was settled in June through mediation involving all of the parties.
Under terms of the suspension, Kelly had to undergo confidential assessments by an independent expert and attend mandatory counselling sessions conducted by a gender-based violence expert.
Both the counselling sessions and assessments had to be satisfactorily completed before the CFL would consider Kelly’s reinstatement and the league did reserve the right to modify his discipline.
Last weekend, the league announced it had received Kelly’s confidential psychological assessment and would complete an examination of the results with the help of experts before making a decision on Kelly’s reinstatement.
Kelly then participated in an in-person discussion with CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie.
Toronto’s 39-25 home win over Calgary on Aug. 9 was its ninth regular-season game after which the Argos went on a bye week.
Chad Kelly, the former NFL quarterback and nephew of Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, has been reinstated by the Canadian Football League (CFL) with conditions as the Toronto Argonauts quarterback. The decision comes after Kelly was released by the Argonauts in September following a violation of the league’s COVID-19 protocols.
The CFL announced that Kelly will be allowed to return to the team under certain conditions, including undergoing regular COVID-19 testing and following all health and safety protocols put in place by the league. The CFL also stated that Kelly must adhere to a code of conduct and will be subject to disciplinary action if he fails to comply with the conditions set forth.
Kelly, who was signed by the Argonauts in July, has expressed remorse for his actions and is grateful for the opportunity to continue his football career in the CFL. In a statement, Kelly said, “I am thankful for the second chance that the CFL has given me and I am committed to proving that I can be a positive influence on and off the field.”
The 27-year-old quarterback has had a tumultuous career thus far, having been released by multiple NFL teams due to off-field issues. However, Kelly has shown promise on the field, with a strong arm and good mobility that could make him a valuable asset to the Argonauts.
It remains to be seen how Kelly will perform in his return to the CFL, but his reinstatement is a positive step forward for both him and the league. The Argonauts will be hoping that Kelly can make the most of this second chance and help lead the team to success on the field. Only time will tell if Kelly can turn his career around and make a name for himself in the CFL.