Chad Patrick Kelly, born on March 26, 1994, is an American professional football quarterback currently playing for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is the nephew of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly. Chad spent his early years in Western New York, his mother's home area, not far from where his uncle Jim was playing professional football.
Kelly was a consistent strong performer in Punt, Pass, and Kick competitions as a youth, becoming national champion four times. Jim Kelly said of his nephew, "Athletic ability, Chad has more than I had", with "a freaking rocket for an arm".
Early Career and College Years
Kelly attended St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute in Buffalo, New York, where he showcased his talent early on. He then transferred to East Mississippi Community College for a year before making his mark in Division I football.
Ole Miss Rebels
Kelly played his first game with Mississippi on September 5, 2015, against UT Martin, completing 9 of 15 pass attempts for 211 yards and two touchdowns, while adding a 20-yard rushing touchdown. On September 19, 2015, he led Ole Miss to a 43-37 victory over No. 2 Alabama, completing 18 out of 33 passes for 341 passing yards and 3 passing touchdowns.
On November 7, 2015, Kelly accounted for 478 total yards and six touchdowns against Arkansas. He completed 24-of-34 passes for 368 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. The following week, he threw two touchdown passes and rushed for two touchdowns in a 38-17 victory over No. 15 LSU.
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On January 1, 2016, he helped lead Ole Miss to a 48-20 victory over No. 16 Oklahoma State in the 2016 All-State Sugar Bowl. Kelly won Sugar Bowl MVP Honors after accounting for 21 completions out of 33 passes for 302 passing yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. Kelly also led the team with 73 rushing yards on 10 carries. He finished his first season with Ole Miss with 298 of 458 (65.1%) completions for 31 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Kelly returned for his senior season in 2016.
Ole Miss Statistics Overview
The following table provides a summary of Chad Kelly's statistics during his time with the Ole Miss Rebels:
| Year | Completions | Attempts | Completion Percentage | Touchdowns | Interceptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 298 | 458 | 65.1% | 31 | 13 |
Ole Miss' Crazy Touchdown Play vs. Alabama | CampusInsiders
Professional Career
Kelly was selected by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round, 253rd overall, of the 2017 NFL draft, earning the title of "Mr. Irrelevant". Going into mini-camps for the 2018 season, he would compete with 2016 first-round draft pick Paxton Lynch for the backup quarterback role behind newly acquired Case Keenum.
After his time with the Broncos, Kelly later joined the Indianapolis Colts. After several years as a reserve player on the Broncos and later the Indianapolis Colts, Kelly signed with the Argonauts, gaining success as a starter in the CFL.
CFL Career with the Toronto Argonauts
Kelly started the Argos 2023 campaign as the starting quarterback, with a 32-14 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. On August 31, 2023, Kelly and the Argos agreed to a three-year contract extension worth a total of $1.865 million, making him the highest paid player in the league. The team would go 16-2 though lost to the eventual champion Montreal in the East final.
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Controversies
In December 2014, Kelly was arrested following an altercation outside of a Buffalo, New York, nightclub in which he fought with bouncers and resisted arrest. In early 2024, Kelly was named in a wrongful dismissal lawsuit by a former Toronto Argonaut coach, with allegations that Kelly had made attempts of "unwanted romantic advances and escalating into instances of threatening language" leading to the coach’s dismissal upon reporting the incidents.
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