Former Ole Miss QB and Denver Broncos draft pick Chad Kelly has been suspended by the CFL for at least nine games

TORONTO. Toronto Argonauts QB Chad Kelly (12) sits on the bench after a poor start against the Montreal Alouettes. (RJJohnston/Toronto Star) (RJ Johnston Toronto Star/Toronto Star via Getty Images) — Chad Kelly was suspended nine games by the CFL. (RJ Johnston Toronto Star/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Former Denver Broncos draft pick and Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly has been suspended for at least nine games by the Canadian Football League.

The CFL said in a statement Tuesday that Kelly violated the league’s gender-based violence policy. His suspension came after a former Toronto Argonauts assistant strength and conditioning coach filed a lawsuit earlier this year accusing Kelly of harassment and creating a toxic work environment.

According to the league’s statement, Kelly must “complete confidential evaluations by an independent expert and attend mandatory counseling sessions conducted by a gender-based violence expert” before he can return to the league.

“Players are the ambassadors of our great game,” CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie said in a statement. “They are expected to be leaders in the locker room and role models in the community. It was important that we did our due diligence to conduct a proper review of this matter from all angles. This thorough investigation found that Mr. Kelly clearly violated the CFL’s gender-based violence policy.”

Kelly, the nephew of former Buffalo Bills QB Jim Kelly, was the CFL’s MVP in 2023, throwing for 4,100 yards and 23 touchdowns.

A woman’s allegations against Kelly

The woman was employed by the Argonauts from 2018 to January 2024. She filed a lawsuit in February accusing Kelly of harassment and the team of wrongful termination. According to her lawsuit, Kelly attempted several romantic advances.

From the Winnipeg Free Press:

2) The allegations included that during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Kelly “repeatedly attempted to initiate romantic relationships…by asking her out on numerous occasions.” The trainer noticed that despite her polite rejections, Kelly persisted in his advances. Things then escalated in November 2023 when the coach claimed she was informed by another player while riding on the team bus that “Kelly had publicly accused her of having a romantic relationship with another team member.” Than the coach Kelly When confronted privately with the allegations, instead of addressing her concerns, Chad “responded with aggression, yelling, cursing and waving at her.” Soon after, the coach had breakfast with at least eight others, particularly her supervisor, lead sports therapist Usama Mujtaba. When Kelly saw her from across the room, she claimed he shouted derogatory words at her, adding that he couldn’t wait for her to be fired.

3) After the breakfast incident, the coach informed Mujtaba and Argos assistant general manager John Murphy about what was going on with Kelly. “Murphy responded by saying that (she) shouldn’t have spoken to (Kelly) and that she has now ‘opened a can of worms that didn’t need to be opened.'” The trainer was told he was expected to have a yoga class later in the day -Course since Kelly could attend and someone else would take over. The coach then claims that after she went to the weight room, Mujtaba told her to go home in case Kelly showed up. Then: “On November 10, 2023, (the coach) learned that Chad had made a threatening remark, indicating that she was lucky he had not caused her physical harm.” She was informed that her contract would expire on November 29. January will not be extended.

She claims in the lawsuit that both Kelly and the Argonauts violated the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Kelly, 30, finished his college career at Ole Miss after starting at Clemson. He spent one season with the Tigers before being released from the team in 2014. After spending one season at East Mississippi Community College, Kelly transferred to Ole Miss and was the team’s starting quarterback in 2015 and 2016 before suffering a season-ending knee injury in November 2016.

Kelly was a final pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos and was released in 2018 after being arrested for trespassing following a party at Von Miller’s home. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor related to the incident and briefly joined the Colts for the 2019 season.

The 2023 season was Kelly’s second with the Argonauts after resuming his professional career.