The NFL has declined to hold a 2026 supplemental draft, closing Brendan Sorsby's immediate path to professional football and leaving the former East Hamilton High School quarterback unable to enter the league until at least 2027.

That matters locally because Sorsby, a former standout in the Chattanooga area, will not play college football this season and now cannot use a supplemental draft as an alternative route into the NFL. For local fans following his case, the league's decision means his next step is a wait, not a roster move.

NFL says there will be no 2026 supplemental draft

In an official announcement on June 23, the National Football League said it would not conduct a 2026 supplemental draft.

"The NFL has decided not to hold a Supplemental Draft in 2026," the league said.

The supplemental draft is a separate process the league can use for players who become eligible after the regular NFL draft timeline. Unlike the main draft, it is not held every year. The NFL separately announced the 42 players granted special eligibility for the 2026 NFL Draft, and Sorsby was not part of that group.

  • The regular 2026 NFL Draft has already taken place.
  • The NFL said no supplemental draft will be held in 2026.
  • As a result, Sorsby cannot enter the league until at least the 2027 draft cycle.

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NCAA case ended his 2026 college season

Sorsby's situation stems from an NCAA eligibility case tied to gambling violations. The NCAA said in a June 15 statement that its investigation found Sorsby had violated sports wagering rules. According to the NCAA, that made him ineligible under its rules.

The NCAA said its investigation concerned gambling violations and Sorsby's eligibility status for the 2026 season.

ESPN later reported that Sorsby dropped his lawsuit against the NCAA. That left him without a path back onto the field for the coming college season, even after earlier legal action had temporarily raised the prospect of 2026 eligibility.

Sorsby is listed by Texas Tech on its football roster. Before that, he played at Indiana and Cincinnati. He is also well known in Chattanooga as a former East Hamilton player.

What the decision means for Chattanooga-area fans

For Chattanooga readers, the practical effect is simple. Sorsby is not expected to play college football in 2026, and the NFL has now removed the only reported short-term path that might have let him turn pro this year.

Unless rules or legal circumstances change, his next chance to enter the league would come through the standard 2027 NFL draft process or another future NFL eligibility route recognized by the league.

What happens next

  • Sorsby will not enter a 2026 supplemental draft because the NFL is not holding one.
  • He is not set to play college football this season based on the current NCAA outcome.
  • His next likely NFL opportunity is the 2027 draft cycle.

Fans looking for official updates should monitor the NFL's draft announcements and NCAA statements. Readers with questions or corrections can reach our newsroom through Contact Us.

Reported by Source Text Link, Wikipedia, ESPN, CBS Sports, National Football League (NFL), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Texas Tech University Athletics, Sports Illustrated (SI), Chattanooga Times Free Press.