The Arizona Cardinals have suspended a key executive indefinitely. Ryan Gold, the director of college scouting, breached the NFL’s gambling rules. The suspension was announced on Friday after a thorough investigation.
The league found that Gold shared confidential information about the Cardinals’ draft picks for the 2026 NFL Draft before the selections were made public. The recipients of this information were not disclosed. Additionally, Gold placed parlay bets on NFL and college games.
The NFL emphasized its strict gambling policy, which forbids NFL personnel from engaging in or promoting sports gambling and sharing non-public information with third parties.
In the NFL’s official statement, they assured fans that despite the violation, the integrity of NFL games was not compromised. They stressed the seriousness with which they regard any breach of the Gambling Policy.
The Cardinals also released a statement, clarifying that the investigation implicated only one employee. They affirmed their support for the NFL’s decision and reiterated their commitment to preparing for the upcoming training camp and the 2026 season.
Ryan Gold has served the Cardinals for 13 years. Before his 2025 promotion to director of college scouting, he worked as assistant director of college scouting for three seasons and as college scouting coordinator for four seasons.
Gold’s responsibilities included managing the day-to-day operations of the college scouting department, evaluating draft-eligible prospects, and organizing pre-draft events.
Matthew Reigle writes for OutKick.