On Wednesday, CFL Veteran quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson announced via his Instagram that he’ll be leaving the CFL and joining the USFL’s New Orleans Breakers. Sources have confirmed the Toronto Argonauts did not offer him a deal he was happy with, and he had no other starter market in the CFL.

Bethel-Thompson’s comments on Instagram read,

My next journey begins with the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL and will then continue with considerable NFL interest this fall. I do not want this decidion to be in any way seem as a dismissal of the CFL. I love the CFL and hold it in high regard. Playing in the states this year allows family and football to overlap and I could not pass up on that opportunity.

This is an excellent addition for the Breakers, who have compiled a talented quarterback room between McLeod Bethel-Thompson, Aqeel Glass, Davis Cheek, and Zach Smith. Judging at face value, I’d assume Bethel-Thompson will be the favorite to start for New Orleans.

QB – McLeod Bethel-Thompson

College: UCLA (2006 – 2007), Sacramento State (2008 – 2010)

Pro Experience: San Jose SaberCats (AFL, 2011), San Francisco 49ers (2011, 2013, 2015), Sacramento Mountain Lions (UFL, 2011), Miami Dolphins (2011, 2014 – 2015), Minnesota Vikings (2012 – 2013, 2014), New England Patriots (2014), Philadelphia Eagles (2016), Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2016), The Spring League (2017, 2020) Toronto Argonauts (2017 – 2022)

Pro Accolades: Grey Cup Champion (2017, 2022), CFL Passing Leader (2022), CFL Passing Touchdowns leader (2019), CFL East All-Star (2021, 2022)

After a redshirt season in 2006, McLeod Bethel-Thompson (MBT) played one season at UCLA before transferring to Sacramento State for his final three seasons of eligibility. Over his collegiate career, Bethel-Thompson totaled 136/252 completed passes (54% comp) for 1,615 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.

Bethel-Thompson has had many stops on his professional football journey across 5 different football leagues, starting with the AFL, making some stops in the NFL, playing in the now-defunct UFL, playing in the CFL, and now joining the USFL.

While MBT didn’t see much playing time at any of his NFL stops, he earned a starting job with the CFL. After getting signed and released a month later by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, MBT joined the Toronto Argonauts in May 2017. He initially made the roster as the team’s 4th quarterback, but by week 8 of the 2018 season, he’d earn the starting job.

After the CFL canceled their 2020 season due to the covid-19 pandemic, MBT signed with The Spring League’s Aviators back in the US. His team would make their way to The Spring League’s championship game but did not attend the game to prepare for “opportunities in more sustainable leagues with more resources available to the players.”

Bethel-Thompson re-signed with the Argo’s in May 2021 and has been with the team until now. MBT appeared in 74 games (47 starts) throughout his CFL career and completed 1,125/1,683 passes for 13,261 yards, 70 touchdowns, and 49 interceptions. Despite helping the Argo’s win 2 Grey Cups (2017, 2022) and earning numerous CFL honors, Bethel-Thompson had to fight to keep his starting job in the CFL on multiple occasions. He now looks to solidify a starting role with the USFL’s Breakers.