The NFL has indefinitely suspended Arizona Cardinals executive Ryan Gold for violating the league’s gambling policy.
In a statement released Friday, the league stated that an investigation concluded that Gold provided confidential information about the Cardinals’ 2026 NFL Draft picks before they were announced. The league also claimed that Gold participated in parlay bets on NFL and college games.
“The gambling policy, which is annually reviewed with all NFL personnel, strictly prohibits anyone in the NFL from participating in or facilitating any form of sports gambling, and from providing third parties non-public information,” the NFL said in a statement. “… 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.”
Gold, who is in his 13th season with the Cardinals organization and second as director of college scouting, has the right to appeal the suspension.
The Cardinals were fully cooperative in the investigation, according to a league source who was granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue, and acknowledged Gold’s suspension in a statement shared with The Athletic.
“The NFL’s policies and expectations for all employees are clear, comprehensive, and consistently communicated,” the Cardinals’ statement read. “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 NFL’s investigation included multiple interviews and an examination of electronic records, according to the league source. There was no indication that any other member of the organization, coach or player was aware of or involved in this activity, as well as no indication that any play or game was affected by this activity, the source said.
Prior to his current role, Gold spent three years as the assistant director of college scouting for the Cardinals. Before that, he was the team’s college scouting coordinator for four years. According to the team’s website, Gold “oversees the day-to-day operation and organization of the Cardinals college scouting department. He is responsible for the evaluations of draft-eligible prospects, managing the college scouting staff and coordinating pre-draft events. Gold also serves as a liaison to the National Football Scouting service.”
Gambling has been under an increasingly intense spotlight throughout the sports world, including recent revelations around college football quarterback Brendan Sorsby. The Texas Tech transfer announced in April that he was taking an indefinite leave of absence to enter a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction. Sorsby made several attempts to play football in the fall. After avenues closed with the NCAA, Sorsby applied for the NFL’s supplemental draft, but the league denied Sorsby’s application. The Canadian Football League also preemptively made it known that it would not open its doors to Sorsby.
The NFL hasn’t handed out a suspension for gambling since 2023. The league suspended four Detroit Lions players, including wide receiver Quintez Cephus and safety C.J. Moore, indefinitely that offseason. Both players were eventually reinstated. Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams was also suspended for six games, which was then reduced to a four-game suspension. The Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans all had players suspended for gambling policy violations in the 2023 offseason. The year prior, the NFL suspended wide receiver Calvin Ridley for the entire 2022 season for violating the league’s gambling policy.