Quarterback Brendan Sorsby thought he might head north, get a fresh start in the CFL, and keep his pro dreams alive. That plan is dead now. The Canadian Football League confirmed it will not register a contract for him, effectively banning him from playing anywhere in the league.
The reason? His gambling history. It’s the same issue that kept him out of the NFL’s supplemental draft and has now followed him across the border.
“Upholding the integrity of the league and ensuring fair competition are paramount to the CFL,” the league said in a statement. “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.”
TSN broadcaster Farhan Lalji was the first to report the news. And really, it’s not a huge surprise. But it closes a door Sorsby desperately needed open.
Running out of options
The NCAA already brought the hammer down on Sorsby over gambling violations. The NFL decided not to hold a supplemental draft for 2026, which would have been his clearest path to a roster spot. Now the CFL has said no thanks. That’s three major football organizations that have either barred him outright or made it nearly impossible for him to play next season.
So what’s left? There aren’t many answers. Sorsby will be eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft, assuming he stays clean and stays in shape. But that’s a long time to wait. A full year away from competitive football is a red flag for any prospect, especially one with off-field baggage. Teams already had concerns. A year of sitting around won’t help.
And it’s not like the guy can’t play. That part makes it frustrating.
The talent is real
In his final season at Cincinnati, Sorsby was legit. Over 12 games, he threw for 2,800 yards with 27 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He added 580 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. That got him a Second-team All-Big 12 nod. NFL scouts were paying attention. Some teams saw him as a developmental quarterback with real upside.
That production is what makes this whole situation sting. The guy can throw. He can run. He made big plays in a power conference. But off-field decisions have a way of erasing all of that in a hurry.
For now, Sorsby is stuck. No college eligibility. No NFL supplemental draft. No CFL option. The 2027 draft is his next shot, but that’s more than a year away. And in football, a year is an eternity. What he does between now and then matters as much as anything he ever did on the field.
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