Brendan Sorsby won’t pursue litigation after the NFLPA announced he and the league will stop legal action over his denied supplemental-draft route. The former Texas Tech quarterback will be draft-eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft, where he can’t sign an NFL play
The timing felt final: one phone call, one memo, and suddenly Brendan Sorsby’s legal fight has been shut off like a lightswitch.
On Tuesday. Sorsby and the NFL Players Association announced they would not pursue litigation against the NFL after his attempt to enter the league through the supplemental draft was blocked. Sorsby will now focus on the 2027 NFL Draft—an outcome that comes after months of court battles. gambling-allegation fallout. and a path that kept narrowing.
Sorsby’s case began with a hope of entering the NFL via a supplemental draft. That plan collapsed when the NFL decided against holding the event in 2026 amid ongoing uproar over his gambling history. In court documents, the 22-year-old admitted he placed thousands of bets totaling an estimated $90,000 across his college career. That career included stints at Indiana. Cincinnati. and Texas Tech. and he also admitted placing bets on the Hoosiers while he was a backup quarterback at Indiana.
He later sought help for a gambling addiction and, before turning his attention fully to the pros, waged a legal battle against the NCAA to keep his Texas Tech eligibility alive for 2026.
Now, the NFL litigation is over. A memo sent to all 32 NFL teams obtained by the Daily Mail said the league had confirmed with the NFLPA and Sorsby that there would be no further litigation regarding his entry into the NFL. The same memo made the next step clear: Sorsby will focus on his preparation for entry into the League via the 2027 NFL Draft.
Not everyone used the same wording around why the dispute stopped. One report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero described Tuesday’s development as the result of reaching a “settlement” with the league. A spokesperson from the Commissioner’s Office pushed back on that phrasing. The memo itself was direct—there would be no further litigation.
The NFL also laid out what it will do. and what it won’t. as the situation moves into the next stage. For the purposes of League and CBA rules, Sorsby will be considered a “Draft-Eligible” player for the 2027 NFL Draft. He will not be eligible to sign an NFL Player Contract until the completion of the 2027 NFL Draft.
The league will not discipline Sorsby for currently-known prior misconduct, a league source told the Daily Mail. At the same time, the NFL retains the right to investigate conduct beyond what is currently in the public findings. The league also reserved the right to take Sorsby’s past college misconduct into consideration when setting discipline for any future violations.
Sorsby sounded like a man choosing the next day over the next courtroom appearance. In a statement released Tuesday. he said. “I accept 100% responsibility for my actions.” He added. “I did not have control of my gambling problem and it took getting caught for me to realize that. but it was truly the best thing that could’ve happened to me. Because of this, I have been able to get the help I need and fully focus on my recovery.”.
He said the supplemental-draft news changes nothing about his recovery journey. “I will continue to take it one day at a time. Focusing on making myself better throughout this process and making sure to share what I have learned and will continue to learn with others going forward.”
Sorsby also pledged commitment to football again, but on his terms: “I am fully committed to being the best version of myself that I can be while getting ready for the 2027 draft. God makes no mistakes and I look forward to seeing the good that is to come from this.”
Before Tuesday, his options were already being squeezed by the fallout from his gambling history. He was ruled ineligible to play by the NCAA after the story broke. Sorsby sued the NCAA. and a Texas judge issued a temporary injunction that would have allowed him to play at Texas Tech this season. But in response to a broader backlash from college athletics. the Big XII Conference—Texas Tech’s league—filed in federal court with the aim of punishing Sorsby and the school.
With that filing in view, Sorsby withdrew his suit against the NCAA and declared for the eventually-canceled supplemental draft.
For this summer, he has limited options to keep playing. Last week, the Canadian Football League banned him from joining any team in the upcoming season. In a statement to USA Today. the CFL said. “Upholding the integrity of the league and ensuring fair competition are paramount to the CFL. The allegations involving Brendan Sorsby are serious and concerning.” The league added: “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.”.
Sorsby had not previously expressed a desire to play football in Canada, but the lane there closed. The only league that has publicly invited him to join is the UFL. Lead owner Mike Repole extended the offer on social media to join the Dallas Renegades.
“The UFL is the league of opportunity,” Repole posted to X on June 23. “We created our Regional Player Initiative to keep great players closer to home, closer to their fans, and on the field. Let’s do this!!!!!” Repole closed the tweet by inviting Sorsby to “have your people call my people!”
For Sorsby, the picture now is unmistakably different from the one he tried to control months ago. He admitted to betting on his own team while he was a backup quarterback at Indiana. and he’d hoped to play in the NFL this season. Instead. his NFL door opened—but on a timetable that begins with the 2027 NFL Draft and ends. at least for now. any further fight in court.
Brendan Sorsby NFL supplemental draft NFLPA 2027 NFL Draft Texas Tech Indiana gambling addiction NCAA Canadian Football League CFL ban UFL Dallas Renegades