Arizona Cardinals Executive Plans to Appeal NFL Gambling Suspension

• Last week, the NFL announced the indefinite suspension of Ryan Gold, an Arizona Cardinals executive, for violating the league’s gambling policy
• According to an ESPN report, Gold plans to appeal the suspension
• Counsel for Gold said he could not have had divulged Cardinals draft picks as he did not know who they were picking

Recently suspended Arizona Cardinals personnel executive Ryan Gold will be appealing his gambling suspension from the NFL, according to an ESPN report.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the attorney for Gold claims the accusations that his client revealed Cardinals’ 2026 draft picks prior to them being released to the public are “blatantly false.” The suspension will be appealed, his attorney noted.

The league announced Gold’s indefinite suspension late Friday, July 17. Gold allegedly provided inside information regarding Arizona’s selections in the 2026 NFL draft before they were made public. The league’s investigation also determined Gold participated in parlay bets on NFL and college games.

Not His Gambling Activity

Gold, who is in his 13th season with the Cardinals, allegedly provided confidential, non-public inside information regarding the team’s 2026 draft selections before they were announced. The league did not reveal who Gold provided the information to or how it began its investigation into the Cardinals’ executive.

The indefinite suspension is effective immediately. Gold will exercise his right to appeal the suspension.

“Ryan Gold has been an outstanding NFL executive for over a decade,” Gold’s attorney, Mike Caspino, told ESPN on Sunday. “The accusations made by the league regarding his participation in prohibited gambling activities are blatantly false. We have demanded an appeal, and we look forward to clearing his good name.”

According to Caspino, Gold’s wife was responsible for the gambling activity the league detected, as she made $10 weekly bets with a group of high school friends on parlays and Gold was in no way involved with the activity.

Caspino also said there was no way Gold could have known who the Cardinals were selected in the 2026 draft, as only team owner Michael Bidwill and general manager Monti Ossenfort knew who they were picking.

According to the NFL’s report, the Cardinals fully cooperated with the league’s investigation. The NFL noted there is no indication that any member of the organization, coach, or player was aware of the activity.

Gold was promoted to director of college scouting in 2025, spent the 2022 to 2024 seasons as the assistant director of college scouting, and the previous four seasons as a college scouting coordinator with the cardinals.

Latest NFL Sports Betting Suspension

This the latest NFL sports betting suspension since 2023, when the league suspended a handful of players on the Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Washington Commanders, and Tennessee Titans that season.

Four members of the Lions were suspended that season, including wide receiver Jameson Williams for six games, which was eventually reduced to a four-game suspension. Wide receiver Quintez Cephus and safety C.J. Moore were both suspended indefinitely during the offseason and released from the team. Lions wide receiver Stanley Berryhill was also suspended for six games that season.

The Washington Commanders also released defensive end Shaka Toney.

The league has dedicated significant resources to sports betting and gambling education for its athletes, team coaches, and personnel over the last several years.