LUBBOCK, TX — Quarterback Brendan Sorsby will not play in the NFL in 2026 after the league elected not to hold a supplemental draft, ending his attempt to enter the league following his NCAA ineligibility ruling.
The NFL exercised its right under the collective bargaining agreement to determine whether a supplemental draft would be conducted. League officials indicated they believed holding the draft would create an unnecessary distraction for teams as they prepare for training camp.
Sorsby admitted to placing thousands of bets on college and professional sports totaling more than $90,000, including 40 wagers on Indiana football games while he was a member of the program.
The former quarterback had initially received a temporary injunction that would have allowed him to play at Texas Tech this season. However, after the Big 12 filed in federal court seeking to enforce penalties against both Sorsby and Texas Tech, he withdrew his lawsuit against the NCAA and declared for the supplemental draft.
The NFL informed Sorsby of its decision in a letter obtained by ESPN. Read that letter below:
“Your Petition — filed three business days before the deadline, without any supporting information or documentation, and only after abandoning your recent litigation efforts to avoid NCAA sanctions — does not provide a basis for the League to alter those plans,” the letter stated.
According to the league, Sorsby’s petition was based solely on the fact that he had been declared ineligible by the NCAA.
“The Petition provides no information regarding the basis for, or timing of, the NCAA’s decision,” the letter states. “Public sources, however, indicate that in May 2026 the NCAA issued a determination declaring you permanently ineligible from participation in college athletics, based on a sustained pattern of improper gambling activity during your collegiate career at three different universities.”
First reported by ESPN, Sorsby’s attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, criticized the decision and indicated legal action would follow.
The letter, signed by NFL Management Council general counsel Larry Ferazani, also stated that Sorsby’s petition failed to demonstrate accountability for his actions.
“It does not demonstrate accountability for your conduct or indicate whether, or how, you would adhere to the League’s rules and policies governing the integrity of competition,” Ferazani wrote.
“Instead, even after receiving notice of the NCAA’s decision rescinding your college eligibility in May, you sought to avoid the consequences of that determination through litigation rather than accepting responsibility for your actions, and you pursued entry into the NFL only after abandoning those efforts.”
Ferazani added that participation in the NFL requires accountability and adherence to league standards.
“As Commissioner Goodell has emphasized, participation in the NFL is a privilege that carries with it significant responsibilities, including accountability,” Ferazani said. “By all accounts, you are a talented player with the potential for future success. We encourage you to focus on preparing for possible entry into the NFL through the 2027 NFL Annual Draft.”
A player has not been selected in an NFL supplemental draft since 2019. With no supplemental draft scheduled this year, Sorsby’s path to professional football is delayed, though he could potentially pursue opportunities in other leagues, including the Canadian Football League.
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