Chad Kelly made his much-anticipated return to the Toronto Argonauts on Sunday, following his reinstatement by the Canadian Football League (CFL). Kelly had been suspended on May 7, sidelined for the Argos' two exhibition games and the first nine regular-season contests due to a violation of the CFL's gender-based violence policy. The CFL's ruling came after an independent investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach, alleging sexual harassment and wrongful dismissal by the Argonauts.
The lawsuit was settled in June through mediation, and as part of Kelly's suspension terms, he was mandated to undergo confidential assessments by an independent expert and attend counseling sessions with a gender-based violence specialist. The CFL confirmed it had received Kelly's psychological assessment and, with the assistance of experts, reviewed the results before making a final decision on his return. Kelly also had a crucial conversation with CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie before his reinstatement was finalized.
Upon his return, Kelly participated in Sunday’s practice, taking approximately 70% of the starting offense snaps. Head coach Ryan Dinwiddie noted plans to increase Kelly’s workload during Monday’s practice sessions, though he remained cautious about the possibility of Kelly starting in Thursday night's matchup against Saskatchewan. The Argos (5-4) will host the Roughriders (5-4-1), and Dinwiddie mentioned that due to Kelly's limited practice time and absence from training camp, he might need to split reps with other quarterbacks Cameron Dukes and veteran Nick Arbuckle.
“It was good to have him back. His teammates were excited to see him back in the building,” said Dinwiddie of Kelly’s return. Indeed, the Argonauts face a pivotal moment in their season, and the presence of their former leader, who guided the team to a league-best 16-2 record last season, could be a timely boost. This record run, however, ended with a 38-17 home loss to eventual Grey Cup champions Montreal in the East Division final, marking Kelly's last official appearance on the field before his suspension.
Throughout his suspension, Kelly maintained distance from the team and refrained from media interactions upon his return. Reflecting on his actions and their effect, Kelly expressed his remorse, saying, "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."
Toronto’s General Manager Mike Clemons also commented on the grave situation and the path forward with Kelly. "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," Clemons noted.
Kelly’s return to professional football is seen as a second chance for the quarterback, whose career has been marked by ups and downs. His college journey included stops at Clemson, East Mississippi Community College, and Mississippi. He caught the NFL’s eye and was selected as the last pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, though his tenure there was cut short in 2018 following an arrest for criminal trespassing.
As the Argonauts prepare for their upcoming game against Saskatchewan, the presence of Chad Kelly on the practice field introduces a new dynamic to a team looking to stabilize its season. His journey from suspension back to the gridiron has involved a profound effort to address past mistakes and restore his professional standing. The coming weeks will determine the extent of Kelly's impact on the field and his progress toward rebuilding trust and leadership within the Argonauts' organization.