Brendan Sorsby’s Settlement With the NFL Sets a Clear Timeline for His Pro Career
Brendan Sorsby’s Settlement With the NFL Sets a Clear Timeline for His Pro Career
Sorsby released a statement after deciding not to take legal action against the NFL. Eva Geitheim|
In this story:
Texas Tech Red RaidersA week after the NFL announced it would not be holding a supplemental draft for Brendan Sorsby, the league has confirmed that the former Texas Tech and Cincinnati quarterback will not be taking legal action.
When the NFL first shared its decision to not hold a supplemental draft for Sorsby after he was ruled ineligible from the NCAA after gambling on college football, Sorsby’s lawyer, Jeffrey Kessler, indicated they would fight the league’s choice. Kessler wrote in a statement last week, “This is an unlawful action by the NFL in violation of the CBA. We will be taking this matter to the NFLPA.”
Related: Brendan Sorsby: A Complete Timeline of the Saga That Has Rocked College Football
Since, the CFL has also announced that they will not Sorsby will play in its league this season. Sorsby and his team have now officially decided against taking legal action, which the NFL shared in a memo to all 32 teams obtained by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
The memo read, “We have confirmed with the NFLPA and Brendan Sorsby that there will be no further litigation regarding his entry into the NFL—and that instead, Mr. Sorsby will focus on his preparation for entry into the League via the 2027 NFL Draft. For purposes of league and CBA rules, Mr. Sorsby will 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.”
Sorsby himself also released a statement sharing the following:
“There has been a lot of news about me out there and I want to share this statement to make sure things are clear. 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, 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.
“The news about the supplemental draft changes nothing about my 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. 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.”
The NFL sent a memo to all 32 teams on Brendan Sorsby, who'll now shift his focus to preparing for the 2027 NFL Draft after the league denied him entry into the supplemental draft.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) June 30, 2026
Here is that memo, and Sorsby's statement. pic.twitter.com/TEXnIHfXIv
In its letter announcing there would be no supplemental draft, the league took aim at Sorsby for lacking accountability. Sorsby notably holds himself accountable in this letter, and will not receive further discipline from the league as he officially turns his focus to entering the NFL next year.
So ... what’s next for Brendan Sorsby?
With Sorsby unable to play in the NCAA, NFL or CFL in 2026, he will instead look to prepare for the 2027 NFL draft. Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Sorsby will accordingly be allowed to participate in non-league events in the lead-up to the draft, such as the Senior Bowl, pro day and visits with teams.
The biggest disadvantage for Sorsby will of course be that he cannot play in games and further his experience in that regard—which is key for a player to boost their draft stock. Sorsby was a player that had potential to become a first-round pick next year, but it’s harder to see him reaching that point without getting to showcase his development on the field in game settings.
On the more optimistic side, Sorsby will still be able to train. There are more resources, private quarterback coaches and technology than ever to help quarterbacks develop and succeed, and while that by no means can compare to in-game experience, it’s a decent silver lining for a player that put himself in a really tough spot. Sorsby will also have the opportunity to meet with teams and showcase his physical tools ahead of the draft—which have made him an enticing prospect. A number of quarterbacks have improved their draft stock as much or more through the pre-draft process than during their play on the field, and Sorsby has the opportunity to do the same.
More NFL from Sports Illustrated
Published 1 hour ago | Modified 1 hour ago
EVA GEITHEIMEva Geitheim is an NFL writer at Sports Illustrated. Prior to joining SI in December 2024, she wrote for Newsweek, Gymnastics Now and Dodgers Nation. A Bay Area native, she has a bachelor’s in communications from UCLA. When not writing, she can be found baking or rewatching Gilmore Girls.
Home/NFL
GOP Rep. Tom Kean Jr. explains his 'mysterious' 4-month absence from Congress
OAN Staff Lillian Mann
6:30 PM – Tuesday, June 30, 2026
In an emotional speech on the House floor, New Jersey GOP Representative Tom Kean Jr. revealed the reason behind his four-month long medical leave from Congress, telling his fellow lawmakers that he was in the hospital for depression.
Kean (R-N.J.) disclosed on Tuesday that he was recently diagnosed with depression following a hospitalization for undisclosed health concerns. He added that recovering from the mental illness has taken longer than expected.
“I am a private person by nature … talking about myself has never come naturally. But I believe that I owe an explanation to the people of New Jersey’s 7th District, to my colleagues in this chamber and to the American people for my absence,” he began from the podium Tuesday morning.
“I was given the diagnosis of depression. It is physical, it is emotional and, until you’ve experienced it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be.”
The 57-year-old has missed more than 140 votes during his recovery, amounting to a 100% absence rate, according to the website GovTrack.
“I began to understand not only my diagnosis, but how long depression had been affecting my life,” he continued. “When people hear the word depression, many people think it simply means feeling sad. But depression is so much more than that.”
“When I first informed the public that I was dealing with a medical issue, I was still trying to understand what was happening myself,” he said of the secrecy of his absence.
Despite feeling hesitant when his doctors recommended he stayed at the hospital, he shared that he was ultimately grateful for the decision.
“When I said I hope to return in a matter of weeks, I believed it. Those were the best estimates that the doctor could provide. But as the over 48 million of my fellow Americans being treated for this illness have come to discover, there is no timeline for healing. There is no timeline for recovery. Only the work of getting better one day at a time,” he said.
“Today I am grateful that I listened to my doctors … I am grateful that I accepted help. Because today I stand before you healthier, stronger and excited to return to the work that I love.”
Although Kean’s condition was not made public until Tuesday, the details were apparently known by Capitol Hill colleagues –including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) — who said earlier this month, “I do know what his health issue is, but he’s asked me not to disclose that, and I’m going to honor that.”
Johnson also emphasized at the time that Kean’s absence is “not a scandalous thing at all,” telling reporters that “people deal with health issues. Maybe that’s a news flash for you, but even members of Congress get sick as well.”
During his absence, Kean secured the Republican nomination for a third term representing New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District after running unopposed in the primary. He will face Rebecca Bennett (D-N.J.) in November.
Stay informed! Receive breaking news alerts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
What do YOU think? Click here to jump to the comments!
Sponsored Content Below
Share this post!
These Whiskies From One of Scotland’s Underrated Distilleries Are the Perfect Summer Sippers
By Jonah FlickerJonah Flicker
Jonah Flicker's Most Recent Stories
- Buffalo Trace’s Coveted Prohibition Collection Is Back for 2026. Here’s Everything You Need to Know.
- These New Whiskey-Baijiu Blends Are Unlike Anything You’ve Ever Tasted
- Taste Test: Coors Just Released a New Whiskey—and It’s Surprisingly Good
Fettercairn
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Robb Report may receive an affiliate commission.
Whiskey brands and distilleries make a lot of claims about how they taste, but sometimes it’s all about the power of suggestion. Did you really taste Christmas cake and treacle as you sipped that single malt? Do you even know what those things taste like? In the case of this new pair of whiskies from Fettercairn, however, the claims hold true—these two single malt scotches are bursting with tropical fruit notes, making them perfect summer sippers.
Related Stories
- These New Whiskey-Baijiu Blends Are Unlike Anything You’ve Ever Tasted
- How to Grill Fish Like a Michelin-Starred Chef
- This Rugged Camper Van Is the First Made in America With a Molded-Shell Exterior
Fettercairn, a Highland distillery that is owned by Whyte & Mackay along with the Dalmore and Jura, is relatively new in the U.S. The distillery has been around for about two centuries, but the whisky only became available here last year with the launch of 24 and 28-year-old whiskies, the latter of which we found to be exceptional. It’s less common for a whisky to launch with higher age-statement expressions like these, although certainly not unheard of, but at the time a rep for the brand said younger expressions would follow. Well, they have arrived in the form of 12 and 16-year-old single malts, both of which are full of bright, fruity notes that will appeal to both newbies and seasoned whisky vets.
The distillery attributes its whisky’s tropical fruit character to the way in which it is distilled and cooled. There is a copper cooling ring near the top of the still that Fettercairn says means only the lightest vapors rise to the top, and those are said to contain the particular flavors that define the new make spirit and carry over through many years of maturation. “That process gives us a beautifully light, tropical spirit to work with, and from there, it’s about shaping that character with care—preserving its freshness while building texture and complexity through maturation,” said distillery manager Stewart Walker in a statement.
WATCHIf these technical details are a bit beyond your pay grade, try the whisky for yourself to see what you taste. The 12-year-old is aged entirely in ex-bourbon barrels and bottled at 46 percent ABV with natural color and no chill filtration. Look for notes of pineapple, banana, mango, vanilla, citrus, and ginger on the palate. The 16-year-old, also naturally colored and without chill filtration, was also aged in ex-bourbon barrels and bottled at a slightly higher 46.4 percent ABV. There’s a bit more oak on the palate here, as you might expect, along with notes of papaya, ripe pear, green apple, custard, cinnamon, and milk chocolate.
Both the 12 (SRP $55) and the 16 (SRP $90) were released in late spring and are available to purchase now from retailers around the country and at websites like Total Wine. And you can still find the excellent (and expensive) 24 and 28-year-old whiskies at websites like ReserveBar.
Authors
-
Jonah Flicker
Flicker is currently Robb Report's whiskey critic, writing a weekly review of the most newsworthy releases around. He is a freelance writer covering the spirits industry whose work has appeared in…
Read More
Related Stories
- These New Whiskey-Baijiu Blends Are Unlike Anything You’ve Ever Tasted
- How to Grill Fish Like a Michelin-Starred Chef
- This Rugged Camper Van Is the First Made in America With a Molded-Shell Exterior
