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ESPN Has Adam Schefter's Eventual Replacement In Mind

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Apr 3, 2026 5:31 PM ET

In 2009, Adam Schefter joined ESPN as an NFL insider after years in the same role at NFL Network. With that same network now under the ESPN umbrella, the Worldwide Leader in Sports has a larger pool to choose from in designating Schefter's eventual replacement.

According to Front Office Sports, the job Schefter has held for upwards of a decade could go to longtime NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport in the future. Per the report, ESPN "intends to keep Rapoport" as his contract expires next month.

"Exclusive: ESPN leadership is high on NFL Network stars Ian Rapoport and Daniel Jeremiah, who are seen as possible longterm successors to Adam Schefter and Mel Kiper Jr. ESPN intends to keep Rapoport, whose deal is up next month, FOS has learned," the outlet reported on Thursday.

Exclusive: ESPN leadership is high on NFL Network stars Ian Rapoport and Daniel Jeremiah, who are seen as possible longterm successors to Adam Schefter and Mel Kiper Jr.

ESPN intends to keep Rapoport, whose deal is up next month, FOS has learned.https://t.co/ucTXthzWHE
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) April 2, 2026

The only choice?

Rapoport is already a very popular NFL figure in his own right. His 5.1 million followers on X already make him the second-most popular NFL insider in the industry with Schefter being the only one more popular. Other longtime insiders like Jay Glazer, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero have less than 3 million followers combined.

That said, Rapoport still isn't on Schefter's level. At 11 million followers on X, Schefter is basically more popular on his own than pretty much the entire rest of the industry combined.

But when Schefter finally does call it a career, be that in a year, five years or 15 years, those followers will have to flock somewhere and Rapoport's feed seems like the obvious choice.

It would also be a fascinating full circle moment for Rapoport as well. Soon after Schefter left the NFL Network to join ESPN, Rapoport was hired and ultimately replaced Schefter in the same role. Rapoport taking on Schefter's role at ESPN would be a logical next step.

That said, Schefter has made very little indication that he'll be ready to leave ESPN or the field of NFL insider reporting for a long time.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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