Ian Rapoport teaming up with Adam Schefter with multiyear deal at ESPN

NFL reporter Ian Rapoport. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Ian Rapoport teaming up with Adam Schefter with multiyear deal at ESPN

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Apr 29, 2026 7:31 PM ET

The "worldwide leader" in sports just put together a dream team when it comes to NFL coverage and insider information.

Perhaps this is one of the only reports on life in the NFL that won't come from first from either Ian Rapoport or Adam Schefter. Instead, the news was confirmed on "The Pat McAfee Show." Though it was, fittingly, Rapoport who confirmed it.

Rapoport, 46, is finalizing a multiyear deal with ESPN.

After spending over 10 years as Schefter and ESPN's primary competitor for NFL scoops, the man known as RapSheet will be joining the four-letter network.

Rapoport has been the main insider at the NFL Network for over 10 years. Notably, he still expects to be a guest on the NFL Network while working alongside other reporters like Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero.

"My assumption based on kind of what we've been told, is there's gonna be a lot of things that are gonna look pretty similar," Rapaport said (h/t USA Today), "like, I'm still gonna be on NFL Network a lot."

"@AdamSchefter has been great in this entire process..

I'm very excited to be joining ESPN" ~ @RapSheet #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/OMDM1eRB8l
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 29, 2026

Ian Rapoport excited to work alongside Adam Schefter

Considering their role as competitors over the years, one would think that there could be some "bad blood" between Schefter and Rapoport. It would even be reasonable for Schefter to feel like Rapoport is encroaching on "his turf" now that he's coming over to ESPN.

That has not been the case in the slightest, though, according to Rapoport.

"As far as, like, working with Adam − and first of all, he has been great in this whole process," said Rapoport. "I'm excited to be be here. However it happens, like working with Adam − you know I like the team part of this. ... This is a hard world, and it should be fun, and teamwork is fun."

This deal has come about due to ESPN's purchase of the NFL Network, which became official on April 1.

From Boston, Massachusetts, Rapoport started his journalism career with the Jackson Clarion-Ledger in 2004, covering the Mississippi State Bulldogs. He covered the Alabama Crimson Tide for the Birmingham News in 2006 and then became a beat reporter covering the New England Patriots in 2009 for the Boston Herald.

He joined the NFL Network in 2012 and has since become a mainstay for NFL news and information in the social media era.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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