Steelers Now
Brendan Sorsby will not be playing in the NFL in 2026, the league made perfectly clear on Tuesday by not only deciding not to hold a supplemental draft — Sorsby was the only applicant — but also by means of the league’s scathing letter that excoriated Sorsby’s actions that led to his collegiate suspension.
The message was clear: the league wants no parts of Sorsby and his history of gambling, and if he plays at all, it’ll be with the league’s begrudging acceptance in 2027.
So if Sorsby wants to play football between now and the 2027 NFL Draft what are his options?
While Texas Tech has given up the ship when it comes to Sorsby’s fight against the NCAA, in the face of the Big 12 deciding to come down on the Red Raiders in the form of threatening championship game eligibility and their games being on television.
Maybe not every conference would feel the same way. If the court system says the NCAA can’t stop Sorsby from playing, and the hindrance to him playing at Texas Tech is the Big 12, would some lower-level league find it worthwhile to allow him to participate, and cash in on the revenue and notoriety that would follow a top draft pick unexpectedly playing in a lower league?
It’s possible, if somewhat unlikely.
The NCAA isn’t the only game in town. When Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers was ruled ineligible for gambling in 2022, he ended up finishing his college career by playing at the JUCO level for Iowa Western Community College.
Dekkers led IWCC to an 11-2 record, and they finished second in the country at that level. He was not selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, and he signed with the New Orleans Saints as a UDFA.
In addition to JUCO football, there’s also the NAIA level, a step below the NCAA for four-year colleges. While the NAIA generally upholds NCAA suspensions, Sorsby’s legal limbo might give the league an out if it wants to let Sorsby in. Technically, right now, his suspension from the NCAA has been lifted via the temporary injunction he received — if someone wanted to read the situation charitably.
While the NFL has closed its doors, that’s not the beginning and the end of professional football. Sorsby could look north of the border for a shot at pro ball in the CFL. While suspended NFL players can no longer play in the CFL, Sorsby’s in-between status should make him eligible to play in Canada.
The only problem is that the 2026 CFL season is already underway, with Week 3 just taking place last weekend. Sorsby would also need to secure a work visa — a process that isn’t always swift.
Many Canadian teams have established multi-year starters in place. Would a team be willing to jettison their quarterback a few weeks into the season to take a shot on Sorsby instead?...
