Brendan Sorsby’s path back to professional football has narrowed dramatically after the NFL’s announcement that it would not hold a Supplemental Draft in 2026 was followed by the Canadian Football League blocking the former Texas Tech quarterback from signing with any of its nine clubs.

The NFL’s decision leaves the 22-year-old without a route into the league until the 2027 NFL Draft, while the CFL’s subsequent ruling closes what had appeared to be his most realistic opportunity to continue playing competitive football in the meantime.

Once viewed by some evaluators as a quarterback with legitimate NFL draft potential, Sorsby’s case has become one of the most unusual eligibility sagas in recent college football history. The quarterback, who transferred from Indiana to Cincinnati before joining Texas Tech, admitted to placing almost 3,000 sports wagers totalling more than $90,000 while in college. Those bets included wagers involving Indiana during his time with the Hoosiers, resulting in the NCAA declaring him permanently ineligible.

Sorsby initially challenged that ruling in court and was briefly granted an injunction that restored his eligibility. However, he later withdrew the lawsuit, ending his college career with the intention of pursuing entry into the NFL through the supplemental draft. Already a rare event, the NFL subsequently elected not to conduct a supplemental draft this summer.

League officials informed Sorsby and all 32 clubs that no draft would be held, effectively closing the only mechanism through which he could have entered the professional game this year. According to multiple reports, the NFL concluded Sorsby should instead prepare for the 2027 draft, while also expressing concerns over the seriousness of his gambling violations and his handling of the disciplinary process. Sorsby’s attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, has meanwhile argued that the decision violates the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement and has indicated he intends to pursue the matter through the NFL Players Association.

If Sorsby was considering any alternative routes to continue playing, the CFL extinguished its potential as an interim platform on Friday. In an unusually strong statement, the league confirmed it would neither register a contract for Sorsby nor allow any team to place him on its negotiation list, citing the importance of protecting the integrity of the competition.

“The CFL has informed all nine member clubs that they are prohibited from signing Brendan Sorsby to a CFL contract or adding him to a negotiation list,” the league said. “The allegations concerning Mr Sorsby’s conduct are serious and troubling. We believe that preserving the integrity of our game and fair competition on the field is paramount.”

The decision leaves Sorsby with remarkably few competitive options. Because he formally relinquished his remaining NCAA eligibility in pursuit of the supplemental draft, a return to college football is no longer possible. The 2026 United Football League season has already concluded, eliminating another potential destination until next spring, leaving him with limited opportunities to remain game-ready before becoming eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft. Even the European scene is halfway through its summer season, and it is unlikely that either Sorsby or a team in the EFA or AFLE would see any wisdom in him crossing the Atlantic.