Football Player Caught Betting on NFL Games

A defensive player for the Arizona Cardinals currently on injured reserve has been suspended for the rest of this season, all of next season and perhaps beyond for betting on NFL games. The league said its investigation of Josh Shaw uncovered no evidence indicating any inside information was used or that any game was compromised, and that no other NFL players or coaches were aware that Shaw was betting on games.

“The continued success of the NFL depends directly on each of us doing everything necessary to safeguard the integrity of the game and the reputations of all who participate in the league,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “At the core of this responsibility is the longstanding principle that betting on NFL games, or on any element of a game, puts at risk the integrity of the game, damages public confidence in the NFL, and is forbidden under all circumstances. If you work in the NFL in any capacity, you may not bet on NFL football.”

The league did not say when Shaw bet on games and whether he bet on games involving his own team, whether he was placing his bets legally or illegally, or how the league learned of his involvement in gambling. Shaw may petition for reinstatement on or after February 15, 2021. Realistically, it’s unlikely he’ll ever play in the NFL again.

You can read more about the suspension of Shaw for betting on NFL games at NBC Sports.