Pro Football Rumors
JULY 1: During an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show (video link), Pelissero clarified that Sorsby could indeed participate in next year’s Combine. The event is run by the NFL, and teams vote on which players receive an invitation. Sorsby’s college production would certainly make him a logical candidate, although he would enter the Combine coming off a highly unusual year in that case.
JUNE 30: Some finality, at least regarding the NFL, in Brendan Sorsby‘s 2026 journey emerged Tuesday afternoon. The embattled quarterback is no longer attempting a push to enter the NFL this year.
A memo released to the league’s 32 teams (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter) indicates Sorsby will not pursue legal action for 2026 NFL entry. Instead, the former Indiana and Cincinnati quarterback will turn his attention to the 2027 draft. A legal battle — after the suddenly high-profile quarterback had scored a win against the NCAA — was rumored, but the prospect’s camp will now avoid that route.
As part of an agreement between Sorsby’s camp, the NFL and NFLPA (via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero), no discipline for previously known acts will commence. However, the league will retain the right to investigate findings that surface in the future, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
This certainly could be interpreted as good news for the confessed gambling addict, who has received treatment amid turmoil with the NCAA, though it does not offer the would-be Texas Tech passer assurances he will enter the NFL without punishment. It will depend on any further discoveries related to his gambling habit.
Another interesting piece of fallout here concerns Sorsby’s 2027 pre-draft path. He will be eligible to conduct pre-draft visits and workouts with teams, per Pelissero, who adds the QB would also be Senior Bowl-eligible next year. That would certainly be an interesting invite for the top college all-star game to extend, considering the events that led the QB to his current position. Pelissero did not mention the Combine here, which is notable.
“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 have happened to me,” Sorsby said in a statement (h/t Pelissero). “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 am fully committed to being the best version of myself that I can be while getting ready for the 2027 draft.”
The former college standout admitted to making thousands of bets on college and pro sports; those totaled upwards of $90K and included 40 wagers on Indiana while he was on the Hoosiers’ roster. The NCAA did not reinstate Sorsby after his release from rehab, but a Lubbock, Texas, judge issued a surprising injunction that would have allowed the QB to play for Texas Tech this season. Tremendous backlash against the NCAA...
