Chad Kelly Returns to Toronto Argonauts After Suspension
Chad Kelly made his much-anticipated return to the Toronto Argonauts on Sunday, having been reinstated by the CFL. This comes after Kelly's suspension on May 7, following a breach of the league’s gender-based violence policy. The suspension sidelined him for the Argos' two exhibition games and the first nine regular-season contests.
The decision to suspend Kelly followed 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 lawsuit was eventually settled through mediation in June. As part of his suspension terms, Kelly was required to undergo confidential assessments by an independent expert and attend counseling sessions with a gender-based violence expert. The assessments and counseling were prerequisites for his 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. This process also included a conversation between Kelly and CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie. Kelly's return to the team was met with cautious optimism as he participated in Sunday’s practice, taking about 70% of the starting offense snaps.
“I am sorry for my actions and the impact it has had on many people personally, the Toronto Argonauts, and the CFL,” said Kelly. “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 Ryan Dinwiddie acknowledged his return positively: "It was good to have him back. His teammates were excited to see him back in the building." However, Dinwiddie mentioned there was still a plan to gradually increase Kelly’s workload during Monday’s practice sessions.
Toronto, currently holding a 5-4 record, is set to host Saskatchewan (5-4-1) on Thursday night. While the Argonauts are enthusiastic about Kelly's return, Dinwiddie expressed caution regarding Kelly starting the game due to his limited practice time and absence from training camp.
Kelly may potentially share reps with the Argos' other quarterbacks, Cameron Dukes and veteran Nick Arbuckle, as he works his way back into game shape. His last appearance on the field was in Toronto's loss to Montreal in the East Division final last year. Kelly maintained his distance from the team during his suspension and refrained from speaking to the media upon his return. The Argonauts will undoubtedly be looking for Kelly to rediscover the form that led them to a league-best and franchise-record 16-2 season last year. While their campaign ended prematurely with a 38-17 home loss to eventual Grey Cup champions Montreal, hopes are high that Kelly can help steer the team towards another strong season.
Argonauts General Manager Mike Clemons shared his thoughts on Kelly’s return, saying, "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 is one filled with highs and lows. After stints at Clemson, East Mississippi Community College, and Mississippi during his college years, he was selected by the Denver Broncos as the last pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. However, his time with the Broncos was cut short following an arrest for criminal trespassing in 2018.
The Argonauts, their fans, and Kelly himself hope this return marks a fresh start. The upcoming match against Saskatchewan will be crucial in determining how quickly Kelly can reintegrate and impact the team's dynamics and performance. For now, all eyes are on Kelly as he seeks to rebuild his career and reputation, one practice and game at a time.