Brendan Sorsby Owns Up Gambling Addiction After Reaching Settlement with NFL: “I Accept 100% Responsibility”

Brendan Sorsby's attorneys filed a lawsuit against the NFL after the latter canceled the supplement draft this year.

Brendan Sorsby Owns Up Gambling Addiction After Reaching Settlement with NFL: “I Accept 100% Responsibility”

Brendan Sorsby gambled through friends and family (Image via Swess Mybalzich/X)

The name Brendan Sorsby came into the purview of NFL fans after he decided to first apply for the supplemental draft that was supposed to take place this offseason.

The league holds such drafts when they get applications from prospects who have missed out due to various reasons. The only problem is that the Cincinnati Bearcats alum has a rap sheet that the league just could not ignore.

After the 22-year-old checked himself into rehab for sports gambling, the NCAA used the opportunity to send a message and labeled him ineligible for the 2026 season.

He had transferred to Texas Tech and had already played in their spring game. But now, he could not play anymore. Soon after, a legal battle ensued.

After the NCAA denied his appeal for reinstatement, the situation went before a judge. Even though Sorsby got a favorable ruling, the governing body was not going to let it go.

That might have pushed him to declare for the supplemental draft. However, that, too, did not go his way once the NFL decided to cancel it. Brendan Sorsby’s lawyers filed a lawsuit, forcing the league to enter discussions.

I accept 100% responsibility for my actions. I did not have control of my gambling problem, and it took getting caught for me to realize that.

Brendan Sorsby’s statement, as per Ian Rapoport

This was the quarterback’s statement as obtained by the lead NFL Insider, once the league and Sorsby’s lawyers came to an agreement over the lawsuit’s settlement. It seems the Texas native will get a chance to play in the NFL.

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NFL allows Brendan Sorsby to be ready for the draft

The only fine-print part about this headline is that the 2026 NFL Draft is over, and the league has already canceled this year’s supplemental draft.

Brendan Sorsby is eligible for the 2027 Draft
Brendan Sorsby is eligible for the 2027 Draft (Image via Around the NFL/X)

That means the league has allowed Brendan Sorsby to be eligible for the future draft, the 2027 one to be specific, as detailed in a memo Ian Rapoport got his hands on that was sent to all the teams.

For purposes of League and CBA rules, Mr. Sorsby will be considered a “Draft-Eligible” player for the 2027 NFL Draft. Mr. Sorsby will not be eligible to sign an NFL Player Contract until the completion of the 2027 NFL Draft.

Rapoport quoted the NFL

This solution means that the signal caller can start preparing for the possibility of playing in the league in the future. Some had termed him as first-round caliber, and he was linked to the Pittsburgh Steelers and other teams as well.

The only problem is that if the NCAA’s appeal goes through, Brendan Sorsby will not have the luxury of playing his way into the draft. Rather, he will have to keep himself conditioned without playing football.

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NFL can use Brendan Sorsby’s gambling past for future punishments

Allowing Brendan Sorsby to take part in the 2027 NFL Draft might seem to some as being lenient. The league has brought down the hammer hard on players who indulged in gambling.

But since the 6’3″ star’s prior instances did not happen in his professional career, the league cannot do much other than delay his entry. However, it seems the NFL has reserved the right to use Sorsby’s past conduct in any future deliberations.

The NFL will not discipline for currently-known prior misconduct but retains the right to investigate Sorsby’s conduct beyond what is in the current public filings. It also reserves the right to take college misconduct into consideration in setting discipline for any future violations.

Ian Rapoport revealed

This effectively places the QB in a tight spot. Not only will he have to stay away from gambling, but he will always have to look over his shoulder if he were to even utter the word. Hopefully for him, it might not matter if he can complete his rehab.

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