NFL Suspends Cardinals Scouting Director for Gambling Policy Violations
League says Gold bet on games, provided inside information on draft picks
The NFL on Friday issued an indefinite suspension to a member of the Arizona Cardinals’ front office after the league learned he violated its rules on sports betting.
According to the Associated Press, Ryan Gold, the team’s director of college scouting, supplied inside information regarding the team’s picks prior to them being announced during the April draft. In addition, Gold also made parlay wagers on both NFL and college football.
The league’s policy on gambling forbids all NFL personnel from wagering on any aspect of the league’s activities. Additionally, all employees, excluding players, cannot bet on any other professional, collegiate, international, or amateur sport.
“Although there is no reason to believe the integrity of any NFL game was affected, the League takes any violation of the gambling policy with the utmost seriousness,” the league said in a statement.
Sports betting is legal in 40 states and the District of Columbia. Of the states that license sportsbooks, about 30 of them permit wagering on the draft. However, some states limit the types of wagers available or require bettors to make their wagers prior to the draft starting.
Arizona, which legalized sports betting five years ago, allows its licensed sportsbooks and online sports betting operators to offer markets on the NFL Draft. However, the state mandates that any wager happen before “the earliest affected round” begins.
Federally regulated prediction exchanges offer sports markets, including on the NFL draft, across the country with some exceptions. Several states, including Arizona, have taken legal action against operators of those exchanges for violating state gambling laws.
Cardinals Back NFL’s Ruling
Gold began his NFL career in Arizona 12 years ago as a scouting assistant. According to his bio on the team’s website, he rose up the ranks in the department, becoming a scout in 2017, a college scouting coordinator a year later, and the assistant director for college scouting in 2022. He took over as the director of that division last year.
In a statement, the Cardinals stood behind the league’s decision.
“The NFL’s policies and expectations for all employees are clear, comprehensive, and consistently communicated,” the team said. “We fully support the league’s decision in this matter, which involves a single employee. Our focus remains on preparing for the start of training camp next week and the 2026 season.”
Gold may appeal the suspension.
He is not the first non-player that the league suspended for breaking its rules on gambling. In December 2022, the NFL suspended Miles Austin, then a receivers coach with the New York Jets, for betting on other sports and playing online casino table games while on team property.
Austin has not returned to the league since then.
Another Gambling Issue Looms
The NFL may also have another gambling-related situation on its hands next year. Brendan Sorsby, whom the NCAA recently ruled permanently ineligible after it discovered the highly touted quarterback wagered on sports and placed bets on his team while a redshirt player for Indiana in 2022, will be eligible for next year’s NFL Draft. Sorsby applied to participate in a supplemental draft before then, but the league turned down his request.
It’s possible Sorsby, who also made bets on college football and other sports while at Cincinnati and Texas Tech, could face discipline should an NFL team draft or sign him. The league suspended Terrelle Pryor for five games in 2011 after he left college early due to violating NCAA rules regarding the sale of his autograph and memorabilia.
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