Brendan Sorsby learned that the NFL was rejecting his petition to enter the league’s supplemental draft at the same time as almost everyone else.
According to a statement from the offices of Jeffrey Kessler, Sorsby’s attorney, the NFL alerted the media that it would be denying the former Texas Tech quarterback’s supplemental draft application before it alerted Sorsby himself.
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“The NFL gave its letter purporting to deny Mr. Sorsby entry to the Supplemental Draft to the media before sending it to Mr. Sorsby,” the statement said. “He learned that the NFL was not planning to hold a Supplemental Draft when the media reported it.”
BRENDAN SORSBY: NFL calls QB’s issues ‘too significant,’ declines 2026 supplemental draft
News broke of the NFL’s denial to hold a supplemental draft in the afternoon on Tuesday, June 23. A letter from Larry Ferazani, general counsel of the NFL Management Council, notified Sorsby that his application “does not provide a basis for the League” to hold a supplemental draft. It cited the timing of the application – “filed three business days before the deadline” – and a lack of “supporting information or documentation” as part of the reason for the rejection.
According to Kessler, Sorsby did not receive the letter until after the NFL “gave [it] … to the media,” and he did not receive any indication that earlier submission or additional materials were necessary. The statement from Kessler’s office says that Sorsby completed and submitted his application to enter the supplemental draft “within hours of receiving it” last week.
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The 22-year-old quarterback faced multiple legal battles as he looked to return to the college football field after the NCAA investigated him for a gambling addiction. Sorsby admitted to placing “thousands” of online bets and checked into rehab for a sports gambling addiction in April.
In early June, Sorsby won one of his legal battles, getting an injunction against the NCAA that granted him eligibility for the 2026 season. However, widespread criticism and additional potential legal roadblocks – including the Big 12 filing a federal complaint – pushed Sorsby away from a return to Texas Tech‘s football team, according to his agent, Ron Slavin.
Two people close to the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on June 15 that Sorsby intended to leave Texas Tech and apply for the NFL supplemental draft. The former Red Raiders quarterback had until Monday, June 22 to submit his application.
After the NFL denied Sorsby’s application to enter the supplemental draft, Kessler said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports the quarterback would petition the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) to take legal action against “an unlawful act in violation of the [collective bargaining agreement].” One person close to the situation told USA TODAY Sports that the NFLPA “has not made any determination on if, how or whether there are legal grounds to act on” Sorsby’s case.
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Sorsby is not eligible to sign with NFL teams as a free agent after his application to enter a supplemental draft was rejected. There is a chance he will be granted eligibility for the 2027 NFL Draft, according to Ferazani’s June 23 letter.
USA TODAY Sports’ Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz and Chris Bumbaca contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brendan Sorsby heard about supplemental draft rejection from media
