NFL insider Ian Rapoport discusses new role teaming with ESPN's Adam Schefter

Jason Sargent Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Nate Davis, USA TODAY Wed, April 29, 2026 at 6:12 PM UTC

As it pertains to breaking NFL news, ESPN is switching to double coverage.

Ian Rapoport, aka "Rapsheet," who's served as NFL Network's primary news insider since 2012, is finalizing a multi-year deal with ESPN. He will join the Worldwide Leader's longtime league insider, Adam Schefter, as they prepare to collaborate while serving up NFL scoops rather than competing against one another.

Rapoport confirmed the news April 29 during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show."

"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," he said, "like, I'm still gonna be on NFL Network a lot."

McAfee placed the title "ESPN NFL Junior Insider" under Rapoport's face during his appearance, surely a gag.

Rapoport expects to continue working closely with NFL Network colleagues Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero, with whom he regularly appears on the outlet's "The Insiders" alongside Judy Battista.

How Rapoport's role evolves with Schefter and how much he appears on ESPN − Rapoport has previously guest hosted McAfee's show and regularly appeared on it prior to ESPN/Disney's purchase of NFL Network − has not yet been fully determined.

"As far as, like, working with Adam − and first of all, he has been great in this whole process," said Rapoport, while praising NFL Network's migration under the ESPN umbrella after its acquisition became official on April 1.

"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."

Rapoport, 46, covered the Patriots for the Boston Herald for three years before joining NFLN.