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). Before his CFL success, Kelly played college football for both the Clemson Tigers and Ole Miss Rebels. He was later drafted by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL draft.
Chad Kelly with the Toronto Argonauts in 2023
Early Life and Career
Kelly was born to Charlene Cudzylo and Kevin Kelly, and he is the nephew of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly. Growing up in Western New York, Chad was a consistent performer in Punt, Pass, and Kick competitions, winning four national championships. Jim Kelly noted that Chad possesses more athletic ability and a stronger arm than he had.
College Career
Kelly attended St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute and later transferred to East Mississippi Community College for a year. He played his first game with Mississippi on September 5, 2015, against UT Martin, completing 9 of 15 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns, along with a 20-yard rushing touchdown.
On September 19, 2015, Kelly led Ole Miss to a 43-37 victory over No. 2 Alabama, completing 18 of 33 passes for 341 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. On November 7, 2015, he accounted for 478 total yards and six touchdowns against Arkansas, completing 24 of 34 passes for 368 passing yards and three touchdowns, though Mississippi lost in overtime, 53-52.
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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, Kelly led Ole Miss to a 48-20 victory over No. 16 Oklahoma State in the 2016 All-State Sugar Bowl, earning MVP honors with 21 completions out of 33 passes for 302 passing yards, four touchdowns, and one interception, along 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. He returned for his senior season in 2016.
Chad Kelly Leads Ole Miss Past Georgia
Coming into the 2015 season, Ole Miss fans hoped for a quarterback who would not be a disaster. Chad Kelly exceeded expectations, leading the conference in total offense and passing yards, while finishing second in passing efficiency. He broke or tied four individual Ole Miss records and 10 team records.
Here’s a comparison of Kelly’s stats to other Ole Miss quarterbacks since 2000:
| Ole Miss Quarterbacks | Total Yards | Total Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|
| Chad Kelly '15 | 4,167 | 37 |
| Bo Wallace '14 | 3,393 | 27 |
| Bo Wallace '13 | 3,701 | 24 |
| Bo Wallace '12 | 3,384 | 30 |
| Eli Manning '03 | 3,572 | 32 |
| Eli Manning '02 | 3,281 | 23 |
| Eli Manning '01 | 2,957 | 31 |
Additionally, here’s how Kelly compares to other SEC quarterbacks:
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| SEC Quarterbacks | Total Yards | Total Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|
| Chad Kelly '15 | 4,167 | 37 |
| Dak Prescott '15 | 3,954 | 35 |
| Brandon Allen '15 | 3,255 | 30 |
| Dak Prescott '14 | 4,470 | 43 |
| Johnny Manziel '13 | 4,873 | 40 |
| Cam Newton '10 | 4,369 | 51 |
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." He competed for the backup quarterback role behind Case Keenum. 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.
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 went 16-2 but lost to Montreal in the East final.
Controversies
In December 2014, Kelly was arrested following an altercation outside a Buffalo, New York, nightclub. In early 2024, Kelly was named in a wrongful dismissal lawsuit by a former Toronto Argonaut coach, with allegations 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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