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). Known for his strong arm and dual-threat ability, Kelly played college football at Clemson and Ole Miss before entering professional football.
He is the nephew of Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly and has had a career spanning the NFL and CFL, marked by both success and challenges.
Early Life and High School Career
Chad Kelly was born to Charlene Cudzylo and Kevin Kelly, a supermarket manager and younger brother of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly. He spent his early years in Western New York, his mother's home area, not far from where his uncle Jim was playing professional football.
Chad Kelly was a consistent strong performer in Punt, Pass, and Kick competitions as a youth, becoming national champion four times. Regarding Chad's early football career, a football coach once said, "Being Jim Kelly's nephew has been harder for him than it has helped him. A lot is expected of him because he’s Jim's nephew." Jim Kelly said of his nephew, "Athletic ability, Chad has more than I had", with "a freaking rocket for an arm".
Kelly attended St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute in New York, where he had strong junior and senior seasons, passing for over 3,000 yards and rushing for nearly 1,000 yards in his final year.
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College Career
Chad Kelly had a standout college career, overcoming setbacks at Clemson to shine at East Mississippi and Ole Miss as a dynamic quarterback.
Clemson Tigers
Kelly signed with Clemson in 2012 but was redshirted his first year. As a freshman in 2013, he appeared in five games but was dismissed in 2014 for “conduct detrimental to the program.”
East Mississippi Community College
After leaving Clemson, Kelly transferred to East Mississippi, where he led the team to a perfect 12-0 record and a NJCAA National Championship in 2014. He threw for 3,906 yards, 47 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
Ole Miss Rebels
Kelly transferred to Ole Miss in 2015 and immediately became the starting quarterback. He led the team to a 10-3 record in his first season, with notable wins over Alabama, Auburn, and LSU, and earned Sugar Bowl MVP honors. In 2016, he suffered a torn ACL and lateral meniscus, ending his senior season early.
Kelly played in his first game with Mississippi on September 5, 2015, against UT Martin and completed 9 for 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 its second victory ever at Tuscaloosa. In the 43-37 victory over No. 2 Alabama, he completed 18 out of 33 passes for 341 passing yards and 3 passing touchdowns.
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On November 7, 2015, Kelly accounted for 478 total yards and six touchdowns against Arkansas. Although he completed 24-of-34 passes for 368 passing yards and three passing touchdowns, Mississippi lost to Arkansas, 53-52, in overtime. The following week, he threw two touchdown passes and rushed for two touchdowns in a 38-17 victory over No. 15 LSU.
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. He 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. Kelly 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.
College Statistics
The following table summarizes Chad Kelly's college statistics:
| Year | School | Completions | Attempts | Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Clemson | 10 | 17 | 58 | 1 |
| 2014 | East Mississippi | 303 | 453 | 3,906 | 47 |
| 2015-2016 | Ole Miss | 503 | 786 | 6,800+ | 50 |
NFL Career
Kelly was selected by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round, 253rd overall, the last selection in the 2017 NFL draft (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.
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Denver Broncos (2017-2018)
Drafted as “Mr. Irrelevant,” Kelly was sidelined by a wrist injury his rookie year. He played one NFL game and was released after a legal issue.
Indianapolis Colts (2019-2020)
Kelly joined the Colts but faced a suspension and limited opportunities. He spent time on the practice squad and was eventually released in 2020.
Chad Kelly's Journey to the CFL
CFL Career with Toronto Argonauts
After a brief coaching stint, Kelly joined the Toronto Argonauts, becoming their starting QB, winning two Grey Cup championships, and earning the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player award in 2023.
2022 Season
Kelly joined the Argonauts as a backup and helped secure a Grey Cup win when coming off the bench.
2023 Season
Kelly started the Argos 2023 campaign as the starting quarterback, with a 32-14 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Became the starting QB, led the team to a 16-2 record, won the Grey Cup, and earned the CFL Most Outstanding Player award.
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.
2024 Season
Played nine games after reinstatement from suspension, posting 2,451 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and winning a second Grey Cup while recovering from leg surgery
Key Achievements
- 2× Grey Cup Champion (2022, 2024)
- CFL Most Outstanding Player (2023)
- Led Argonauts to top CFL records and playoff success
Personal Life
Chad Kelly has faced several personal and legal challenges throughout his life. His younger brother, Casey, also played quarterback for St. Joseph’s and Mallard Creek High School.
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 2024, he was named in a wrongful dismissal lawsuit involving a former Toronto Argonauts coach, which led to a league investigation.
Kelly is married to Theresa Taheri. They got engaged in January 2025 and welcomed their first child, a son named Chance Armin Kelly, on April 4, 2025.
Legal Issues and Controversies
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.
The CFL concluded Tuesday, after conducting a third-party investigation of allegations, that Kelly violated the league's gender-based violence policy. In addition to his suspension, the quarterback 'will be required to undergo confidential assessments by an independent expert and attend mandatory counselling sessions conducted by a gender-based violence expert.
Net Worth and Earnings
Chad Kelly net worth is $1,018,235, earned mainly through his professional football career. He earns an average annual salary of approximately $616,000 from his three-year, $1.865 million contract with the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League. This equals about $51,000 per month. His deal also included a $250,000 signing bonus for the 2024 season, making him the highest-paid player in the CFL.
Physical Appearance
Chad Kelly is a strong, athletic quarterback known for his sturdy, professional football build. Standing 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) and weighing 216 lbs (98 kg), he combines mobility with arm strength. With brown hair, light-colored eyes, and a goatee, Kelly resembles his uncle, Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, and maintains his physique through focused training and conditioning.
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