Chad Kelly Reinstated to Toronto Argonauts After Suspension
Chad Kelly made a notable return to the Toronto Argonauts on Sunday, following his reinstatement by the Canadian Football League (CFL). This move comes after Kelly served a suspension for violating the CFL's gender-based violence policy, a penalty that kept him off the field since May 7.
The suspension was enforced after an independent investigation delved into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach. The lawsuit accused Kelly of sexual harassment and the Argonauts of wrongful dismissal. A settlement was reached in June through mediation.
During his suspension, Kelly was required to undergo assessments by an independent expert and attend counseling sessions with a gender-based violence expert. Only after satisfactorily completing these mandates was he considered for reinstatement. The CFL confirmed that it had received Kelly's confidential psychological assessment and would review the results with the assistance of experts before making a final decision. Prior to his reinstatement, Kelly also had a crucial conversation with CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie.
Upon his return, Kelly participated in Sunday's practice, taking approximately 70% of the starting offensive snaps. Head coach Ryan Dinwiddie indicated plans to increase Kelly's workload during Monday's practice sessions. However, Dinwiddie expressed caution about starting Kelly in Thursday night's game against Saskatchewan, given his limited practice time and absence from training camp. Kelly may split reps with the Argos' other quarterbacks, Cameron Dukes, and veteran Nick Arbuckle.
Kelly's last outing for the Argonauts was during Toronto's loss to Montreal in last year’s East Division final. He maintained his distance from the team throughout his suspension and refrained from speaking to the media upon his return.
Reflecting on his actions, Kelly stated, "I am sorry for my actions and the impact it has had on many people personally, the Toronto Argonauts, and the CFL. 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."
Head coach Dinwiddie noted the positive atmosphere upon Kelly's return, saying, "It was good to have him back. His teammates were excited to see him back in the building." Argonauts General Manager Mike Clemons echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Kelly’s commitment to personal growth and the team’s culture: "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. 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’s football journey has been a tumultuous one. His collegiate career included stints at Clemson, East Mississippi Community College, and Mississippi. He was the final pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, selected by the Denver Broncos, but his tenure with the team was cut short in 2018 following an arrest for criminal trespassing.
Back with the Argonauts, Kelly aims to recapture the form that saw the team achieve a league-best and franchise-record 16-2 record last season. This impressive run ended with a 38-17 home loss to the eventual Grey Cup champions, Montreal, in the East Division final. As Toronto, with a current record of 5-4, prepares to host Saskatchewan (5-4-1) on Thursday, all eyes will be on how Kelly integrates back into the team dynamics and what role he will play going forward.