While NFL teams are in a race to sign the best talents in the offseason, reporters are in the race to see who breaks the news first. One such race was witnessed between NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport and Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz regarding a meeting between the Las Vegas Raiders’ minority owner Tom Brady and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
However, the two reporters’ content about the meeting was contrasting, and it reportedly even led to a heated altercation during the 2025 NFL Combine, which started Tuesday, Feb. 24.
Ian Rapoport and Jordan Schultz Involved In Heated Altercation at 2025 NFL Combine
The incident came to light when it was reported on Wednesday, Feb. 26, that a “serious big-time media confrontation” had taken place at a Starbucks between two NFL news breakers. NBC shed further light on the incident, revealing that Schultz had approached Rapoport and told him, “We need to talk.”
When Rapoport refused to talk, Schultz is reported to have made accusations at the NFL Media personnel, who called them “unfounded.”
“If you have anything to say [say] it to me, say it to my f****** face,” Schultz further said, or specific words to that effect. “If this continues, we’re going to have a f****** problem.”
The two are reported to have gone face to face before Schultz stepped back, and Rapoport informed NFL security. Meanwhile, the Fox Sports reporter initially admitted to using a few expletives but later claimed he didn’t recall using any.
The incident apparently stemmed from Schultz and Rapoport’s reports about Brady and Stafford. Looking at the X timestamps, Schultz had hit the report first.
“Sources: #Raiders minority owner Tom Brady recently hosted #Rams QB Matthew Stafford at his home in Montana, where they spent time together and went skiing. Brady has been actively trying to convince Stafford to join the Raiders, and discussions are ongoing.
“Several teams are interested in Stafford if the Rams decide to move him, with Las Vegas believed to be the most aggressive suitor,” Schultz wrote.
Sources: #Raiders minority owner Tom Brady recently hosted #Rams QB Matthew Stafford at his home in Montana, where they spent time together and went skiing. Brady has been actively trying to convince Stafford to join the Raiders, and discussions are ongoing.
Several teams are… pic.twitter.com/Jo9xxw2M6e
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 26, 2025
Then, about 30 minutes later, Rapoport had his own report.
#Raiders minority owner Tom Brady and #Rams QB Matthew Stafford ran into each other at a ski resort in Montana, sources say.”
He finished by saying, “The meeting, unplanned, was not extensive or in-depth and did not include Brady ‘hosting’ or ‘recruiting’ Stafford, despite reports saying otherwise.”
#Raiders minority owner Tom Brady and #Rams QB Matthew Stafford ran into each other at a ski resort in Montana, sources say.
The meeting, unplanned, was not extensive or in-depth and did not include Brady “hosting” or “recruiting” Stafford, despite reports saying otherwise. pic.twitter.com/eUucyxzxsW
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 26, 2025
The difference between these reports is that Schultz claims they deliberately met, whereas Rapoport says they “ran into each other.”
While the two didn’t engage in back-and-forth tweeting, Schultz quoted his own post, appearing to sub-tweet about the Rapoport report.
If you really think Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford just happened to run into each other at a ski resort in Montana — of all places — at the exact same time, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.
They were together over the weekend —it happened. Multiple teams are interested in… https://t.co/5UiU4lVoal
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 26, 2025
“If you really think Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford just happened to run into each other at a ski resort in Montana — of all places — at the exact same time, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.
“They were together over the weekend —it happened. Multiple teams are interested in Stafford, and Brady has been leading the charge to get him to the Raiders if the Rams decide to trade him.”