ESPN is finalizing a deal to retain NFL insider Ian Rapoport, according to reporting from Front Office Sports.
ESPN acquired NFL Network earlier this year in an equity deal with the NFL. The move brought all NFL Network talent under ESPN’s roof. Rapoport is reportedly the first to agree to new terms, with his contract expiring next month.
The network now has both Rapoport and Adam Schefter under one umbrella as both have been destination insiders for NFL news and headlines.
As part of his agreement with ESPN, Rapoport will appear across the network’s platforms while continuing NFL Network coverage. The pairing is significant. Rapoport and Schefter were longtime rivals. Now they’re teammates.
“If we were to work together, I think that would be awesome,” Rapoport said to The Athletic in February. “I have no idea if that is going to happen. But it would be like The Avengers.”
Rapoport joined NFL Network in 2012 after covering the Patriots for the Boston Herald.
ESPN declined to comment.
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