The 2026 NFL offseason has been full of off-field controversies involving not just the players and head coaches but also various reporters and analysts.
One of the biggest controversies this year occurred after Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini were photographed together at an adults-only hotel in Arizona, sparking massive online outrage and leading to Russini’s resignation from The Athletic.
Now, Russini’s former ESPN colleague, Adam Schefter, is involved in a scandal of his own.
Adam Schefter’s Investments Spark Conflict of Interest Debate
It was recently revealed that Schefter was an early investor in Underdog.
Underdog is a sports gambling company that is being acquired by U.K.-headquartered online trading firm IG Group for up to $2.15 billion in total consideration, adding to Schefter’s already rich portfolio.
An Underdog spokesperson told Front Office Sports that Schefter was an early investor in the company, and sources confirmed that he hasn’t had any involvement in its operations since.
This isn’t Schefter’s only sports-betting-related investment, as he also previously invested in Boom Entertainment, which creates casino and sports gambling apps. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is also an investor in Boom Entertainment, raising conflict-of-interest questions about whether Schefter’s business ties might compromise his reporting.
The NFL world was quick to criticize Schefter after learning about the Underdog investment.
“Someone who makes a living breaking news should not directly make money from a company where people bet on breaking news,” former ESPN journalist Joon Lee wrote.
Someone who makes a living breaking news should not directly make money from a company where people bet on breaking news https://t.co/2ybaUs86WW
— Joon Lee (@joonlee) August 1, 2026
“Journalism is dead. This is a sad but true reality, particularly at the national level,” award-winning sports journalist Tyler Kavalecz added.
”Arguably worse than what Dianna Russini did and nothing will happen,” Jeff Israel wrote.
Arguably worse than what Diana Russini did and nothing will happen https://t.co/WaifDHjv7H
— JEFF (@jeffisrael25) August 1, 2026
”(Actually a larger conflict of interest than that affair…),” sports influencer Carter Donnick echoed.
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“Yeah… umm… this just doesn’t sound right. Just feels, I dunno, off,” wrote NFL analyst John Frascella.
Yeah… umm… this just doesn’t sound right.
Just feels, I dunno, off. https://t.co/Bjn0XCxNoV
— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) August 1, 2026
“we used to have a media. there used to be a media that just reported the news,” one influencer wrote.
The Schefter and Russini situations are obviously very different, but both are facing criticism for their conflict of interest.
It remains to be seen whether Schefter (or ESPN) will address this or stay silent amid the backlash.
