“Denver Broncos QB Confronted with More Serious Allegations in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit”
Former Denver Broncos quarterback Chad Kelly appeared to have turned his life around and found success in football, thriving in the CFL and even achieving MVP recognition for his outstanding performance in the league.
Kelly, who had standout seasons at Ole Miss from 2015 to 2016 following brief stints at Clemson and East Mississippi Community College, entered the NFL when he was selected as the final pick in the 2017 draft. After spending three seasons with the Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts, marked by some negative publicity, Kelly transitioned to the CFL, where he emerged as a standout player.
His career reached its peak during the last season when he was honored with the 2023 George Reed Most Outstanding Player award in the CFL. Serving as the starting quarterback for the Toronto Argonauts, Kelly led the league in various statistical categories, throwing for 4,123 yards and scoring 31 touchdowns in total.
Expressing his gratitude at the award ceremony, Kelly remarked, “This is a feeling that I’ve never felt before. It’s amazing. Obviously, [George Reed’s] legacy is cemented throughout the whole CFL, and his legacy is going to live on forever. Thank you so much for letting me be a part of this.”
After a brief and tumultuous stint with the Denver Broncos, marked by drama and legal issues, he seemed to have finally found his footing in the CFL.
During last season’s Grey Cup, he replaced the injured McLeod Bethel-Thompson and led the Argos to a remarkable comeback victory, securing the franchise’s first championship since 2017. His exceptional performance earned him the starting role for the following season and a CFL-record $1.865 million deal over three years.
In 2023, he played a pivotal role in Toronto’s impressive 16-2 regular season record and their third consecutive Eastern Final appearance. He became the first Argo to win the Most Outstanding Player award since wide receiver Chad Owens in 2012.
However, amidst his success on the field, new details have emerged in a disturbing sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him by a former Toronto Argonauts staffer.
The accuser asserted that Kelly persistently made unwelcome advances and expressed anticipation for her termination when she attempted to address his inappropriate behavior.
The lawsuit argued that given Kelly’s prominent status, his actions warrant specific censure from the court to convey a message about the necessity of respecting women, emphasizing that Canadian courts will not tolerate behavior akin to Kelly’s.
According to the document, Kelly was insistent on spending leisure time with the plaintiff outside of work, and he exhibited visible frustration when she declined invitations to movie and dinner outings, even stating that a date would only require 30 minutes.
One incident outlined in the statement involved Kelly offering the plaintiff complimentary tickets to a Buffalo Bills game and pressuring her to stay overnight with his group at a rented accommodation.
When she sought approval from Toronto general manager Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons to attend the NFL game as an Argonauts representative, Kelly allegedly became visibly agitated, subsequently raising his voice and using profanity towards her, and even demanded she pay $500 for the tickets.
The amended court filing alleges that both Kelly and the organization bear responsibility for her wrongful termination, seeking damages totaling $85,714.28, along with an additional $10,000 in punitive damages.
Kelly’s legal representative refuted the accusations, asserting that they are taking measures to contest the lawsuit. Kelly, who had a brief stint with the Denver Broncos in 2018, removed a post expressing shock over the initial allegations made against him last month.
During his brief tenure in the NFL, Kelly had several troubling encounters with law enforcement, contributing to his swift departure from the league.
