Cardinals scouting director suspended by NFL over betting

The NFL has indefinitely suspended Arizona Cardinals scouting director Ryan Gold after concluding he supplied inside information about the team’s draft picks and placed parlay wagers on NFL and college football. The league announced the suspension Friday.

The investigation found Gold provided details about the Cardinals’ draft choices before they were publicly released during the April draft and placed parlay bets on professional and collegiate games. The NFL’s gambling policy bars all personnel from wagering on any aspect of league activities and prohibits non-player employees from betting on other professional, collegiate, international or amateur sports. The league added, “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 Cardinals backed the league’s decision. In a statement the team described the NFL’s rules as “clear, comprehensive, and consistently communicated,” noted the discipline concerns a single employee and said the organization is focused on preparing for training camp and the 2026 season. Gold may file an appeal of the suspension.

Gold joined the Cardinals 12 years ago as a scouting assistant, became a scout in 2017, moved into college scouting coordination in 2018 and was promoted to director of college scouting last year.

Sports betting is legal in 40 states and the District of Columbia. About 30 jurisdictions that license sportsbooks permit some form of wagering on the NFL Draft; Arizona allows licensed operators to offer draft markets but requires bets to be placed before the earliest affected round begins. Federally regulated prediction exchanges list draft markets nationwide, and some states, including Arizona, have pursued legal action against those platforms for operating outside state gambling laws.

The league has disciplined non-players for gambling before. In December 2022 the NFL suspended then-New York Jets receivers coach Miles Austin for betting on other sports and playing online casino games on team property. In 2011 the league issued a five-game suspension to Terrelle Pryor for violations tied to NCAA rules.

The NFL may face another gambling issue next year. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby, declared permanently ineligible by the NCAA after it found he wagered on sports and bet on his own team while in college, will be eligible for the next NFL Draft. If a club selects or signs Sorsby, the league could review his case and consider discipline under its rules.

Gold’s suspension removes him from his scouting duties as the Cardinals prepare for training camp. League and team statements maintain there is no evidence any game outcomes were affected.