On Sunday, Chad Kelly made his return to the Toronto Argonauts, following his reinstatement by the Canadian Football League (CFL). His return marks the end of a suspension that was imposed after violating the CFL's gender-based violence policy. Suspended on May 7, Kelly missed the Argos' two exhibition games and the first nine regular-season contests.
The suspension came after an independent investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach. The coach accused Kelly of sexual harassment and the Argonauts of wrongful dismissal. This legal battle concluded in June with a settlement reached through mediation.
A Mandated Rehabilitation
Under the terms of his suspension, Kelly was required to undergo confidential assessments by an independent expert and attend counseling sessions focused on gender-based violence. These conditions had to be met satisfactorily for the league to consider his reinstatement. The CFL received Kelly's confidential psychological assessment and reviewed the results with the help of experts before making the final decision on his return.
Kelly also had a conversation with CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie, who played a role in finalizing his reinstatement. Upon his return, Kelly participated in Sunday's practice, taking about 70% of the starting offense snaps. Head coach Ryan Dinwiddie indicated plans to increase Kelly's workload during Monday's practice sessions.
"It was good to have him back. His teammates were excited to see him back in the building," Dinwiddie commented.
The Road Ahead
As Toronto (5-4) prepares to host Saskatchewan (5-4-1) on Thursday night, Dinwiddie expressed caution about starting Kelly, considering his limited practice time and absence from training camp. Kelly may split reps with the Argos' other quarterbacks, Cameron Dukes, and veteran Nick Arbuckle.
This marks Kelly's return to action since Toronto's loss to Montreal in last year's East Division final, highlighting his long absence from the team. Kelly maintained his distance from the team during his suspension and abstained from speaking to the media upon his return.
Reflecting on his actions, Kelly expressed remorse: "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."
Past and Present
Kelly’s football journey included stints at Clemson, East Mississippi Community College, and Mississippi during his college years. He was the last pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, selected by the Denver Broncos, but was released in 2018 after an arrest for criminal trespassing.
During his last active season, Kelly led the Argonauts to a league-best and franchise-record 16-2 record. Their run, however, ended with a 38-17 home loss to the eventual Grey Cup champions, Montreal, in the East Division final.
A Commitment to Change
The Argonauts' General Manager Mike Clemons noted the significance of Kelly's return and the commitment to change: "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."
As Kelly reintegrates with his team and the league, both the Argonauts and their fans will be watching closely to see how he handles this critical juncture in his career. The road ahead will undoubtedly be challenging, but with a structured support system and personal commitment, Kelly aims to turn this page into a new chapter of growth and redemption.