Argos and Quarterback Chad Kelly Reach Mediated Settlement in Lawsuit

A settlement has been reached in the lawsuit filed against quarterback Chad Kelly and the Toronto Argonauts by a former assistant strength-and-conditioning coach. This agreement was achieved through mediation involving all parties, as confirmed by two league sources who chose to remain anonymous since no formal announcement was made about the resolution. The specific details of the settlement remain undisclosed.

The coach had sought $80,000 from Mr. Kelly and a total of $85,714 from the Argos, with an additional request for $10,000 in punitive damages, as reported by TSN. It is worth noting that The Canadian Press does not reveal the names of alleged victims of harassment or sexual assault without permission.

Following an independent investigation into the lawsuit, the CFL suspended Mr. Kelly for both exhibition games and at least nine regular-season contests due to a violation of its gender-based violence policy. Last month’s suspension was a result of allegations made by the former coach against both the player and the club.

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As part of his suspension, Mr. Kelly must undergo confidential assessments by an independent expert and attend mandatory counseling sessions with a gender-based violence expert. Completion of these assessments and counseling sessions to the CFL’s satisfaction is required before considering Mr. Kelly’s reinstatement, with the league reserving the right to adjust his discipline.

Mr. Kelly, who was named the CFL’s outstanding player last season, led Toronto to a 16-2 record but saw their season end with a loss in the East Division final. The CFL initiated its investigation following a statement of claim filed by the complainant, alleging a series of harassment incidents by Mr. Kelly.

The former coach stated that the Argos took no action upon learning of Mr. Kelly’s behavior, and her contract non-renewal decision was made known to her in January. She had been with the franchise since 2018, with her contract previously being renewed continuously.

Shortly after the CFL’s suspension announcement, Mr. Kelly was present at Toronto’s rookie camp at the University of Guelph but did not participate in practices. He later decided to withdraw from the camp, emphasizing his commitment to personal growth through counseling and support for the team.

In his statement, Mr. Kelly expressed his intention to earn reinstatement in the CFL and regain trust, stating, “I look forward to getting back on the field soon.”