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."
"@AdamSchefter has been great in this entire process..I'm very excited to be joining ESPN" ~ @RapSheet #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/OMDM1eRB8l
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.
2026: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana - Las Vegas Raiders2025: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (Fla.) - Tennessee Titans2024: Caleb Williams, QB, USC - Chicago Bears2023: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama - Carolina Panthers2022: Travon Walker, DE, Georgia - Jacksonville Jaguars2021: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson - Jacksonville Jaguars2020: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU - Cincinnati Bengals2019: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma - Arizona Cardinals2018: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma - Cleveland Browns2017: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M - Cleveland Browns2016: Jared Goff, QB, Cal - Los Angeles Rams2015: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State - Tampa Bay Buccaneers2014: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina - Houston Texans2009: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia - Detroit Lions2008: Jake Long, OT, Michigan - Miami Dolphins2007: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU - Oakland Raiders2004: Eli Manning, QB, Ole Miss - San Diego Chargers (traded to New York Giants)2003: Carson Palmer, QB, USC - Cincinnati Bengals2002: David Carr, QB, Fresno State - Houston Texans2001: Michael Vick, QB, Virginia Tech - Atlanta Falcons2000: Courtney Brown, DE, Penn State - Cleveland Browns1999: Tim Couch, QB, Kentucky - Cleveland Browns1998: Peyton Manning, QB, Tennessee - Indianapolis Colts1997: Orlando Pace, OT, Ohio State - St. Louis Rams1996: Keyshawn Johnson, WR, USC - New York Jets1995: Ki-Jana Carter, RB, Penn State - Cincinnati Bengals1994: Dan Wilkinson, DT, Ohio State - Cincinnati Bengals1992: Steve Emtman, DT, Washington - Indianapolis Colts1991: Russell Maryland, DT, Miami - Dallas Cowboys1990: Jeff George, QB, Illinois - Indianapolis Colts1989: Troy Aikman, QB, UCLA - Dallas Cowboys1988: Aundray Bruce, LB, Auburn - Atlanta Falcons1987: Vinny Testaverde, QB, Miami - Tampa Bay Buccaneers1986: Bo Jackson, RB, Auburn - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (did not sign, later joined Los Angeles Raiders)1985: Bruce Smith, DE, Virginia Tech - Buffalo Bills1984: Irving Fryar, WR, Nebraska - New England Patriots1983: John Elway, QB, Stanford - Baltimore Colts (traded to Denver Broncos)
1 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832026: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana - Las Vegas Raiders1 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832026: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana - Las Vegas Raiders2 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832025: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (Fla.) - Tennessee Titans3 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832024: Caleb Williams, QB, USC - Chicago Bears4 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832023: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama - Carolina Panthers5 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832022: Travon Walker, DE, Georgia - Jacksonville Jaguars6 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832021: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson - Jacksonville Jaguars7 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832020: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU - Cincinnati Bengals8 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832019: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma - Arizona Cardinals9 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832018: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma - Cleveland Browns10 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832017: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M - Cleveland Browns11 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832016: Jared Goff, QB, Cal - Los Angeles Rams12 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832015: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State - Tampa Bay Buccaneers13 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832014: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina - Houston Texans14 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832009: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia - Detroit Lions15 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832008: Jake Long, OT, Michigan - Miami Dolphins16 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832007: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU - Oakland Raiders17 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832004: Eli Manning, QB, Ole Miss - San Diego Chargers (traded to New York Giants)18 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832003: Carson Palmer, QB, USC - Cincinnati Bengals19 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832002: David Carr, QB, Fresno State - Houston Texans20 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832001: Michael Vick, QB, Virginia Tech - Atlanta Falcons21 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832000: Courtney Brown, DE, Penn State - Cleveland Browns22 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831999: Tim Couch, QB, Kentucky - Cleveland Browns23 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831998: Peyton Manning, QB, Tennessee - Indianapolis Colts24 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831997: Orlando Pace, OT, Ohio State - St. Louis Rams25 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831996: Keyshawn Johnson, WR, USC - New York Jets26 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831995: Ki-Jana Carter, RB, Penn State - Cincinnati Bengals27 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831994: Dan Wilkinson, DT, Ohio State - Cincinnati Bengals28 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831992: Steve Emtman, DT, Washington - Indianapolis Colts29 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831991: Russell Maryland, DT, Miami - Dallas Cowboys30 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831990: Jeff George, QB, Illinois - Indianapolis Colts31 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831989: Troy Aikman, QB, UCLA - Dallas Cowboys32 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831988: Aundray Bruce, LB, Auburn - Atlanta Falcons33 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831987: Vinny Testaverde, QB, Miami - Tampa Bay Buccaneers34 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831986: Bo Jackson, RB, Auburn - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (did not sign, later joined Los Angeles Raiders)35 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831985: Bruce Smith, DE, Virginia Tech - Buffalo Bills36 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831984: Irving Fryar, WR, Nebraska - New England Patriots37 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831983: John Elway, QB, Stanford - Baltimore Colts (traded to Denver Broncos)
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ian Rapoport, aka Rapsheet, signing with ESPN, teams with Adam Schefter