Chad Kelly's Return to Toronto Argonauts Following Suspension
Chad Kelly made his much-anticipated return to the Toronto Argonauts on Sunday after being reinstated by the Canadian Football League (CFL). Kelly had been suspended in early May for violating the CFL's gender-based violence policy, which led to his absence from the team's two exhibition games and the first nine regular-season contests.
The suspension was the result of an independent investigation into allegations made in a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach. The lawsuit accused Kelly of sexual harassment and the Argonauts of wrongful dismissal and was settled in June through mediation.
As part of the suspension terms, Kelly was mandated to undergo confidential assessments by an independent expert and attend counseling sessions with a gender-based violence expert. These steps had to be satisfactorily completed for his reinstatement to be considered. The CFL confirmed it had received Kelly's psychological assessment and reviewed the results with the assistance of experts before making its final decision. Kelly also had a conversation with CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie before his reinstatement was finalized.
When Kelly returned to the Argonauts, he participated in Sunday's practice, taking around 70% of the starting offense snaps. Head coach Ryan Dinwiddie mentioned plans to increase Kelly's workload during Monday's practice sessions, but expressed caution regarding him starting in Thursday night's game against Saskatchewan. Given Kelly's limited practice time and absence from training camp, there were considerations to possibly split reps with the other quarterbacks, Cameron Dukes and veteran Nick Arbuckle.
Kelly has been out of action since Toronto's loss to Montreal in last year's East Division final. During his suspension, he maintained his distance from the team and refrained from speaking to the media upon his return. Kelly had led the Argonauts to a league-best and franchise-record 16-2 record last season, but their promising run ended with a 38-17 home loss to eventual Grey Cup champions, Montreal.
Reflecting on his actions and the subsequent suspension, Kelly said, "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 Ryan Dinwiddie echoed the sentiment, highlighting the positive reception from Kelly's teammates. "It was good to have him back. His teammates were excited to see him back in the building," Dinwiddie commented. This return marks a litmus test for both Kelly and the Argonauts as they navigate the remainder of the season.
General Manager Mike Clemons underscored the significance of Kelly’s accountability and the ongoing work to improve team 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," Clemons remarked.
Kelly's football journey has been marked by both promise and challenges. 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 was released in 2018 following an arrest for criminal trespassing.
Toronto, currently holding a 5-4 record, is set to host Saskatchewan (5-4-1) on Thursday night. With Kelly's return, the Argonauts aim to capitalize on his skills to improve their standing. The path forward involves not only leveraging his on-field talents but also continuing the personal and team-wide growth initiated during his suspension.