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Out of all the breaking news stories on the first day of NFL free agency, one in particular stood out to NFL Daily host Gregg Rosenthal: Adam Schefter actually retweeting competitor Ian Rapoport’s story that Travis Kelce is returning to the Chiefs.
Yes, you read that right. Schefter and Rapoport have been rivals for the better part of the past two decades. But here was ESPN’s senior NFL insider retweeting NFL Network’s lead insider on a high-profile story both were clearly chasing about Taylor Swift’s fiancé.
Schefter doesn’t toss out retweets to his 11.5 million followers lightly. That small measure of respect from the fiercely competitive Schefter could signal broader implications as ESPN takes control of NFL Network next month.
Rapoport’s current NFL Network contract expires in May, according to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic. ESPN’s upcoming decision between letting Rapoport’s preexisting contract lapse or re-upping him as NFL Network’s new parent company looks like a no-brainer decision for network management. Here’s why:
First, it would give ESPN’s properties the NFL’s two top newsbreakers. During weeks like free agency, insiders like Schefter and Rapoport literally drive viewership to ESPN studio shows. Just ask Pat McAfee, who had NFL insiders Schefter and Peter Schrager on his show this week.
ESPN and NFL Network could practically corner the market on insiders, with a lineup of Schefter/Rapoport/Schrager/Jeff Darlington/Dan Graziano/Jeremy Fowler/Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo on the NFL, Shams Charania on the NBA, Jeff Passan on MLB, and Emily Kaplan on the NHL.
Second, it could create an NFL insider succession plan for the next decade or more. The boyish Schefter still looks young. But he’s turning 60 this year. The retirement of NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski at age 55 made Schefter reflect on how long he wanted to keep grinding at a burnout job.
“We talked about this, and basically, he wanted his life back,” Schefter said on ESPN following Wojnarowski’s sudden retirement to become the GM of the St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team in 2024. “He didn’t want to have to work on holidays. He didn’t want to be away from more family gatherings. … That’s the life that we live. And that was the life that he chose not to do any longer. Because it takes over your life.”
Rapoport, nicknamed “Rap Sheet,” is 46 years old. He also comes cheaper than Schefter, who reportedly makes approximately $9 million per year under his current deal.
“Give or take some others, Adam and Ian comprise 90% of the [NFL] news that’s broken,” says one source. “It would be a pretty compelling opportunity to effectively pitch a shutout.”
Finally, it could also replicate the wildly successful dynamic between Schefter and the late great insider Chris Mortensen, who passed away in 2024.
Back in 2009, the pioneering Mortensen was the 50-something king of insiders. Schefter was his younger competitor at the NFL Network. The senior Mortensen could have tried to block his hire at ESPN or could have held Schefter at arm’s length. Instead, Mortensen embraced his new colleague like an equal partner.
Mortensen and Schefter would appear side by side on Sunday NFL Countdown and the NFL Draft, delivering joint reports to millions of viewers. They gave ESPN a one-two punch against rivals Jay Glazer of Fox and Sports Illustrated’s Peter King. The duo led the NFL insider game for the next 15 years.
In the last couple of weeks, there’s been a “thawing of the ice” between Schefter and Rapoport, say sources. Will Schefter show the same grace with Rapoport? We’ll find out. My bet is he will.
Still, if Rapoport nails a new deal, it’s more likely they’d complement each other as the top newsbreakers at their respective sister networks rather than both working for ESPN, say sources. Essentially, Rapoport could remain the top insider on Disney’s version of NFL Network, opposite Schefter on ESPN. This early on, the situation remains fluid.
Getting a deal done for Rapoport could also help the plummeting morale at NFL Network. With all staffers becoming ESPN/Disney employees as of April 1, some on-air talents are in “panic mode” at the Los Angeles–based cable network.
But so far, the news has been better than expected, say sources. ESPN has promised to honor the existing contracts of NFL Network’s on-air talent. There hasn’t been any widespread blood-letting yet.
Will there be eventual layoffs? Probably. There usually are when two competitors come together and the dreaded “redundancies” and “efficiencies” are discovered.
But odds are increasing that ESPN will recognize the value of key NFL Network reporters, hosts, and analysts. The hope internally is that ESPN will invest in NFL Network, not slash and burn.
“The NFL spent so many years cutting that they’ve shaved past the bone at NFL Network,” says another source. “Maybe ESPN will finally put some real firepower behind it.”
With his contract due in May, ESPN’s decision on Rapoport will be one of the first dominoes to fall. After that, we’ll see whether more retweets between rivals-turned-colleagues will follow.
