The Canadian Football League (CFL) has barred quarterback Brendan Sorsby from playing in the upcoming season, adding another setback for the player who unsuccessfully attempted to join the NFL earlier this year. The league announced its decision in a statement Friday, emphasizing its commitment to integrity and fair competition.
"Upholding the integrity of the league and ensuring fair competition are paramount to the CFL," the league stated. "The allegations involving Brendan Sorsby are serious and concerning. At this time, the CFL will not register a contract for him, and no team will be permitted to add him to its negotiation list."
While Sorsby had not publicly expressed interest in joining the CFL for the 2026 season, this decision removes a potential avenue for him to play professional football competitively. This development follows closely after the NFL declined to hold a supplemental draft for Sorsby. According to Larry Ferazani of the NFL Management Council, the league's decision was based on the quarterback not accepting the consequences of his admitted sports betting activities.
"Even after receiving notice of the NCAA’s decision rescinding your college eligibility in May, you sought to avoid the consequences of that determination through litigation rather than accepting responsibility for your actions, and you pursued entry into the NFL only after abandoning those efforts," Ferazani stated.
The recent restrictions come after a tumultuous period for the 22-year-old quarterback. During a lawsuit hearing, it was reportedly uncovered that Sorsby placed multiple bets totaling over $90,000. These bets included wagers on his former team, Indiana, in 2022. Sorsby played his most recent college season at Cincinnati, where he threw for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He then transferred to Texas Tech.
Experts suggest the most probable path for Sorsby to potentially enter the NFL would be through the 2027 NFL Draft, which is anticipated to feature a strong class of quarterback prospects, including players like Arch Manning and Dante Moore.