Pro Football Rumors
JULY 19: In a statement today, Gold’s attorney, Mike Caspino, called the NFL’s accusations “blatantly false” as he demanded an appeal of the league’s decision. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Caspino voiced belief that the NFL’s case against his client lacks strength.
Per Schefter, the attorney claimed that Gold could not have leaked draft pick information because he didn’t know who they were picking at the time and only team owner Michael Bidwill and general manager Monti Ossenfort did. As for the parlay bets, Caspino asserts that the gambling activity attributed to Gold was actually Gold’s wife making weekly $10 bets “with a group of high school friends on parlays and that Gold was not involved.”
JULY 17: The NFL has suspended Cardinals director of college scouting Ryan Gold indefinitely for violating its gambling policy. The ban will take effect immediately, but Gold has the right to appeal it.
As part of its announcement, the NFL stated (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter): “The League’s investigation determined that Gold provided confidential, non-public inside information regarding 2026 Draft selections by the Cardinals before they were announced, and that Mr. Gold participated in parlay bets on NFL and college games. 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 made their own statement in response to Gold’s suspension, saying in part (via the Associated Press): “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.”
The Cardinals fully cooperated with the league’s investigation, the AP reports. Prior to his suspension, the Cardinals employed Gold in various roles for 13 years. After three years as the team’s assistant director of college scouting, he earned a promotion to his most recent position in June 2025.
Gold’s ban is the first time the league has handed down discipline for violating its gambling policy since it suspended then-Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers indefinitely in June 2023. The league reinstated Rodgers in April 2024.
