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Jul 18, 2026, 1:00 PM CUT

NFL takes strict action against the Cardinals’ executive found guilty of violating league policies

The league has indefinitely suspended Arizona Cardinals personnel executive Ryan Gold for violating its g******* policy.

ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported the news, noting that while the league believes there is no “reason to believe the integrity of any NFL game was affected,” it is quite strict about g******* violations.

According to the league investigation, 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 b*** on NFL and college games.”

While Gold is eligible to appeal the suspension, there has been no indication that he plans to challenge the league's decision.

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“The G******* Policy, which is annually reviewed with all NFL personnel, strictly prohibits anyone in the NFL from participating in or facilitating any form of sports g*******, and from providing third parties non-public information," the NFL said in a statement, per ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

The league also did not disclose how it initiated the investigation.

Before the suspension, Gold was entering his 13th season with the Cardinals and had just been promoted to director of college scouting in June 2025.

According to team records, he previously served as assistant director of college scouting.

While there are questions following the suspension, the Cardinals have released their own statement on the fallout.

The Cardinals address Ryan Gold's indefinite suspension

According to ABC News, the NFL stated that the Cardinals fully cooperated with the investigation. The league also said it found no evidence that any other member of the organization, coach, or player was aware of or involved in the activity.

"The NFL's policies and expectations for all employees are clear, comprehensive, and consistently communicated," the team's statement reads, per Rob Maaddi of ABC News. "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."

As per the same report, the NFL accessed the electronic records and interviewed key individuals during the investigation.

Apart from Ryan Gold, they found no other evidence that any game or on-field play had been compromised by anyone within the Cardinals.

Interestingly, Gold’s suspension marks the league’s first g*******-related disciplinary action against a player or a staff member since 2023, when they suspended Isaiah Rodgers, who was playing for the Indianapolis Colts at that time.

Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore