NFL won't host supplemental draft, making Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby ineligible in 2026

Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby was set on taking his talents to the NFL in 2026 … only the league had another idea. The NFL will not hold a supplemental draft in 2026.

The decision means Sorsby will not be eligible to join the NFL in 2026.

Advertisement

The league sent a letter to Sorsby — and to all 32 NFL teams — announcing the decision. In it, the league says Sorsby was the only player to apply for the supplemental draft this year and that the quarterback did not provide enough evidence to convince the league his application should be accepted in such a short time period.

The reported deadline to apply for the 2026 NFL supplemental draft was June 22.

"Under our Collective Bargaining Agreement, the League retains sole discretion to determine whether it is appropriate to conduct a Supplemental Draft in any given year. The League has not conducted such a draft for several years and, prior to your submission, the League had no plans to do so this year, as no other player has sought entry.

"Your Petition — filed three business days before the deadline, without any supporting information or documentation, and only after abandoning your recent litigation efforts to avoid NCAA sanctions — does not provide a basis for the League to alter those plans. The issues presented by your Petition are too significant, and too closely tied to the League's core integrity interests, to permit meaningful review within the timeline presented."

Sorsby's counsel believes the decision is a violation of the league's collective-bargaining agreement, and plans to discuss the issue with the NFLPA. Because Sorsby is not in the NFL, he's not technically a member of the players' union yet.

Sorsby’s attorney responds

Sorsby’s attorney, Jeffrey Kessler issued a statement Tuesday afternoon stating that Sorsby’s team went through the proper procedures with the NFL to gain entry into a into a supplemental draft and that it received no indication from the league that Sorsby would be denied:

“In late April, we inquired with the NFL about the process for gaining entry into the Supplemental Draft. The response from the League was that all that was required was a short application, which needed to be submitted prior to June 22. At no point did the NFL indicate that it would need or want to review anything other than the application itself or that submitting the application at or close to the deadline would have any impact on the NFL’s consideration.”

Per the statement, Sorsby’s team learned about the NFL’s denial when everyone else did:

“The NFL gave its letter purporting to deny Mr. Sorsby entry to the Supplemental Draft to the media before sending it to Mr. Sorsby. He learned that the NFL was not planning to hold a Supplemental Draft when the media reported it.”

Kessler’s statement did not address Sorsby’s violation of NCAA gambling rules that ultimately led to the end of his college career and application for the NFL supplemental draft.

Brendan Sorsby's NCAA injunction timeline

The decision by the league comes days after Sorsby applied for the 2026 NFL Supplemental Draft. Sorsby made that decision after an eventful month, which ultimately ended in the quarterback losing his spot on Texas Tech's football team in 2026.

Advertisement

That tumultuous month began after Sorsby was granted an injunction that allowed him to play for Texas Tech in 2026. That led to mass protests across college football, eventually resulting in the Big 12 threatening legal action against Texas Tech if Sorsby played in a game. It came to an end when Texas Tech Board of Regents chair Cody Campbell confirmed Sorsby would not be a part of the Texas Tech football team in 2026.

With Sorsby seemingly out of other college options, Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger reported in June that Sorsby would turn his attention to the NFL for the 2026 season.

Sorsby originally ran afoul of the NCAA after he sought treatment for a gambling addiction in April. Sorsby reportedly placed thousands of bets on college football, some of which were placed on Indiana while Sorsby was a member of the team.

The NCAA eventually deemed Sorsby ineligible to play in 2026 for placing those bets.

Advertisement

Sorsby then filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, petitioning to play in the upcoming season. That injunction was eventually granted, and Sorsby would technically be eligible to play for Texas Tech in 2026 after serving a two-game suspension.

Texas Tech originally made it seem as though it would welcome Sorsby back on the roster with open arms. Other college coaches and athletic directors were furious. Once the Big 12 threatened legal action against the school, however, it backed down.

Amid all of the confusion over Sorsby's playing status, reports emerged that the quarterback had until June 22 to apply for the 2026 NFL supplemental draft. Sorsby reportedly applied for the supplemental draft roughly a week before that deadline.

NFL wants Brendan Sorsby to take responsibility

The NFL, however, found Sorsby's application lacking. Later in its letter, the league outlined multiple reasons why it felt it was not appropriate to approve Sorsby's application on such short notice.

Advertisement

It also took Sorbsy to task for refusing to accept responsibility for his actions.

"The League does not have the complete record of the NCAA's investigation, and you did not provide any such materials with your Petition. Available information nonetheless indicates that, over the course of your collegiate career, you knowingly engaged in repeated and significant violations of NCAA rules designed to preserve the integrity of athletic competition. Reported conduct includes placing wagers on your own team and teammates and, to avoid detection, establishing or funding accounts in the names of intermediaries who placed bets on your behalf. There are also reports that you may have violated state criminal law.

"Your Petition does not address these matters. Nor does it demonstrate accountability for your conduct or indicate whether, or how, you would adhere to the League's rules and policies governing the integrity of competition. Instead, even after receiving notice of the NCAA's decision rescinding your college eligibility in May, you sought to avoid the consequences of that determination through litigation rather than accepting responsibility for your actions, and you pursued entry into the NFL only after abandoning those efforts."

The NFL's letter ends by stressing that being in the NFL is "a privilege that carries with it significant responsibilities." The league then encouraged Sorsby to focus his efforts on "possible entry" into the league through the standard 2027 NFL Draft.

Following Tuesday's decision by the league, that is likely the earliest Sorsby will be allowed to enter the NFL.

Click here to read article