NFL Tampering Investigation Ongoing, Punishment Potentially Delayed
The NFL’s investigation into alleged tampering by the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles is ongoing and will not conclude this week, the league announced Tuesday. This means that if either team is found to have violated league tampering rules and loses draft picks, those selections will not be deducted from this week’s draft.
The Falcons are being investigated for allegedly being in direct contact with quarterback Marcus Mariota, formerly with the Tennessee Titans, before they were legally allowed to according to league rules. Mariota ended up signing with the Falcons on a four-year contract worth up to $180 million on the first day of official free agency last month.
The Eagles are being investigated for alleged tampering regarding their signing of linebacker Haason Reddick, who had previously played for the Carolina Panthers. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday that the Falcons are facing discipline that is likely to involve draft picks and is expected to be more severe than the Eagles’ punishment.
Both teams have cooperated fully with the investigation and provided all requested information. The league has maintained open communication with the teams throughout the process.
The Falcons’ general manager, Terry Fontenot, addressed the investigation at a news conference Tuesday, acknowledging the ongoing nature of the process and expressing the team’s commitment to cooperating fully.
During Mariota’s introductory news conference, he indicated that he spoke with the Falcons’ head trainer before the start of the new league year on March 13, when the free agent negotiating window opened. Teams are only permitted to speak with agents during the 52-hour negotiating period, and direct contact with players is prohibited unless the player is representing themselves without an agent. Mariota is represented by Mike McCartney of Vayner Sports.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank has maintained that the team did not commit any violations and shared all relevant information with the league for review.
Last year, the NFL resolved a tampering investigation into the Arizona Cardinals’ hiring of head coach Jonathan Gannon, resulting in the Cardinals trading third-round picks in the 2023 draft. The Cardinals gave up the 66th overall pick for Philadelphia’s 94th overall pick and received a fifth-round pick in the 2024 draft from the Eagles.
