As a new NFL season draws closer, the football world has been shaken by a perplexing development. ESPN analyst Matt Miller, most famous for his work on scouting and the draft, has been the focus of that entire story.
A brutal car crash that landed him in the hospital opened the proverbial can of worms. Now he has been hit with multiple scam allegations, and the Missouri Attorney General’s office has opened a fraud investigation based on dozens of complaints.
Matt Miller Sheds Light on the Story
After his car crash on June 17 in Missouri, Miller was airlifted to Mercy Hospital. Soon after, a GoFundMe was set up to help support his expenses, which included undergoing a life-saving amputation. However, people quickly realized a discrepancy in the GoFundMe amount.
Even as names like Pat McAfee and Adam Schefter put in donations, the campaign rapidly surpassed its initial $10,000 target, eventually topping $51,000 before it was shut down. Immediately afterward, allegations surfaced about multiple scams that Miller had tried to pull over the years.
From allegedly not paying winners of his charity fantasy leagues to ghosting people who signed up for scouting lessons and his newsletter, things didn’t look good. Some victims stated that they only heard back from Miller and got their money once they threatened to contact ESPN.
While the reports haven’t been independently verified, the number of accusations is concerning. However, for the time being, Miller maintains his innocence. Speaking to The Athletic, he tried to be as diplomatic as possible.
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“Because this is an active investigation, I’ve been told by legal counsel to limit my response,” Miller said in an email. “However, I’ve tried reaching out to all the winners from the last season to make sure they’ve been paid.”
Going into detail about those communications, he even went in-depth about the contests he’d held on social media periodically. While offering some explanation for any delays or discrepancies, he continued to stand his ground.
“My [direct messages] on all social media remain open for winners to contact me,” Miller added. “Because of my limited access to my original email account, I have had trouble authenticating winners, but everyone who finished in first, second, or third place will be paid out, and I’ve worked hard to make that happen.”
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However, the one place where he couldn’t walk away without repercussions was the scholarships for students of color and his charitable aspects. Instead, he opted for the lawyer route, claiming, “Because this is an active investigation, I’ve been told by legal counsel to respectfully not respond.”
It remains to be seen how the entire investigation shakes out. As the authorities have gotten involved and a lawsuit is now in question, it will also be interesting to see how ESPN approaches the matter, given its relative silence on the matter so far.
