Schefter and Rapoport: A Potential Partnership in NFL Reporting

After being competitors for nearly twenty years, Adam Schefter from ESPN and Ian Rapoport from the NFL Network might be on the verge of teaming up. There’s been some sort of “thaw” in their relationship lately, especially with the upcoming merger where ESPN/Disney will integrate talent deals from NFL Network starting April 1.

A sign that things might be changing was evident on Monday, when Schefter retweeted Rapoport’s piece about Travis Kelce returning to the Chiefs for his 14th season. It feels a bit unexpected, doesn’t it?

Currently, Schefter is reportedly earning around $9 million annually from ESPN. Rapoport, on the other hand, has his contract expiring in May. ESPN will have to make decisions about Rapoport’s future soon and, likely, negotiate a new agreement.

Interestingly, Rapoport, who is 46, could still be positioned as the main insider on this new version of the NFL Network under Disney, possibly working alongside Schefter.

Combining their expertise could really shake up the NFL insider landscape. It’s been said that ESPN is prepared to keep Rapoport on board under the terms of his existing contract before delving into a new deal.

Additionally, ESPN’s $3 billion acquisition of the NFL Network—along with assets like the RedZone Channel and NFL Fantasy Football—was finalized back in January 2026. As part of this arrangement, the NFL secured a 10% stake in ESPN.

Meanwhile, some personalities from the NFL Network are expressing anxiety over the impending merger on April 1, as their futures hang in the balance. One source shared that, “The NFL has spent too many years gutting NFL Network. Perhaps ESPN will finally bring some serious firepower to the table.”

Rapoport has been a pivotal figure at NFL Network since July 2013, while Schefter has been with ESPN as an NFL insider since 2009, frequently appearing on shows like “NFL Live” and “Sunday NFL Countdown.”