Syracuse, N.Y. —The National Lacrosse League has lifted the indefinite suspension of former Onondaga Community College lacrosse star Austin Staats.
Staats is now eligible to play for the San Diego Seals during the 2025-26 season.
“The National Lacrosse League, following a review of the available facts in connection with Austin Staats’ off-field conduct and associated legal proceedings, has reinstated Staats from his indefinite suspension,” the league confirmed via a statement. “Staats is eligible to return to play during the upcoming 2025-26 NLL season.”
Staats was suspended by the NLL after an arrest for assault in August of 2024.
Staats last played in the NLL during the 2023-24 season and was one of the most dynamic goal scorers in the league, finishing with 50 goals and 52 assists.
Staats, 27, was a two-time All-American during his career at OCC and was targeted as a recruit by both Syracuse and Albany before electing to play professionally after his junior college career.
Staats, from Six Nations of the Grand River, Ontario, is the brother of former Syracuse star Randy Staats.
During his two seasons at OCC, Austin scored 102 goals and tallied 54 assists in 26 games, helping the Lazers win a pair of national championships.
Staats has also competed for the Haudenosaunee National team in several international competitions, including the 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships on the Onondaga Nation and 2018 World Lacrosse Championships in Israel.
In 2023, after competing for the Haudenosaunee National Lacrosse team at the World Lacrosse Championships in San Diego, Staats was named as the Best Attacker and was a member of the All-World Team.
In January 2024, an investigation by the International Testing Agency found that Staats tested positive for recreational cocaine usage,
As a result, his individual awards were revoked by World Lacrosse.
Staats also had his contract terminated by the Premiere Lacrosse League in 2021 for an off-field altercation with another player in the league.
