Adam Schefter

{{Short description|American sportswriter and reporter (born 1966)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Adam Schefter

| image = Adam Schefter 2022 (cropped) (cropped).jpg

| caption = Schefter in 2022

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|12|21}}

| birth_place = Valley Stream, New York, U.S.

| alma_mater = University of Michigan
Northwestern University

| occupation = Sports writer

| spouse = {{marriage|Sharri Maio|2007}}

| children = 2

}}

Adam Schefter (born December 21, 1966) is an American sports writer and reporter. After graduating from University of Michigan and Northwestern University with degrees in journalism, Schefter wrote for several newspapers, including The Denver Post, before working at NFL Network. He has worked as an NFL insider for ESPN since 2009.

Education and early career

Schefter was born to a Jewish family in Valley Stream, New York, and grew up in Bellmore, New York, where he attended John F. Kennedy High School. He graduated in June 1985.{{cite web|last1=Vaglica|first1=Sal|title=The Man on the Inside|url=http://www.lipulse.com/health-beauty/article/the-man-on-the-inside|website=Long Island Pulse|date=August 23, 2013 |access-date=March 12, 2015}} He is a 1989 graduate of the University of Michigan and a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Schefter was an editor at The Michigan Daily, where he began his newspaper career. While at Northwestern, Schefter worked as a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune. After graduating from Northwestern in June 1990, Schefter was an intern for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer before moving to Denver in 1990, when he started writing for the Rocky Mountain News in September 1990 and then The Denver Post in July 1996.{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Larry|title=Interview with Adam Schefter, NFL Network Reporter|url=http://larrybrownsports.com/interviews/interview-with-adam-schefter/632|access-date=November 20, 2010|newspaper=Larry Brown Sports|date=June 25, 2007}} While at the Denver Post, Schefter served as President of the Pro Football Writers of America from 2001 to 2002.{{cite web|title=PFWA Presidents|url=https://www.profootballwriters.org/about-the-pfwa/pfwa-presidents/|website=Pro Football Writers of America|access-date=January 18, 2021}}

Journalism career

File:AdamSchefter.jpeg

Schefter joined the NFL Network in 2004 and appeared on NFL Total Access and also wrote for NFL.com. Before joining the NFL Network, Schefter appeared five times on ESPN's Around the Horn as a substitute for Woody Paige. Paige was based in Denver at the time. Before Around the Horn, Schefter appeared on ESPN's The Sports Reporters. Schefter appeared on NBC twice in the summer of 2008, working as the sideline reporter for Al Michaels and John Madden during the Redskins–Colts Pro Football Hall of Fame Game and then the Redskins–Jaguars preseason finale.

According to a USA Today survey of fans published January 19, 2009, "NFL Network's Adam Schefter edged ESPN's Chris Mortensen (34%–32%) for best (NFL) insider despite the NFL Network being in less than half as many U.S. households." Schefter was again selected as the best (NFL) insider in a November 2010 USA Today fan poll.{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/mccarthy/2010-11-04-nfl-announcer-survey_N.htm | work=USA Today | first=Michael | last=McCarthy | title=The readers speak ... and they'd like a little quiet | date=November 5, 2010}} Schefter was voted USA Today{{'}}s best "insider" for a third straight year in November 2011.

In 2009, Schefter became a football analyst with ESPN.{{cite web |title=Report: Adam Schefter to Leave NFL Network for ESPN |url=http://www.aolnews.com/2009/04/15/pft-schefter-to-leave-nfl-network-for-espn/ |work=AOL News |date=15 April 2009 |access-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007164436/http://www.aolnews.com/2009/04/15/pft-schefter-to-leave-nfl-network-for-espn/ |archive-date=October 7, 2012}} He began appearing on-air on August 17, 2009. In October 2010, Sports Illustrated writers included Schefter in its "Top 40," a listing of the NFL's top officials, executives, coaches, players and media members.{{cite news| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/nfl/10/08/Top40/index.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101015080948/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/nfl/10/08/Top40/index.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=October 15, 2010 | work=CNN | title=NFL Power 40+ | date=October 12, 2010}}

File:Schefter 2024 football conference.jpg

In 2014, Schefter was named the "Most Influential Tweeter in New York" by New York magazine in February,{{cite web |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2014/02/most-influential-new-yorkers-on-twitter-2014.html?mid=twitter_nymag |title=New York's Most Influential Tweeters May Surprise You |first=Joe |last=Coscarelli |date=28 February 2014 |work=New York |access-date=19 December 2022}} "Best Newsbreaker" by the sports media website Awful Announcing in its second annual People's Sports TV Award Winners in May, and SI.com's “Media Person of the Year.”{{cite web|url=http://mmqb.si.com/2014/12/31/2014-nfl-media-awards/|title=The MMQB Media Awards|first=Richard|last=Deitsch|date=December 31, 2014 }}

On July 9, 2015, Schefter tweeted a medical chart photo indicating that Jason Pierre-Paul had his right index finger amputated. On February 5, 2016, it was reported that two individuals were fired from Jackson Memorial Hospital after a lengthy investigation for violating HIPAA laws.{{cite news |last1=Raanan |first1=Jordan |title=2 fired for accessing JPP's medical records |url=https://www.nj.com/giants/2016/02/jason_pierre-paul_jackson_memorial_hospital_statem.html |access-date=24 September 2021 |work=NJ.com |date=6 February 2016 |language=en}} Pierre-Paul sued Schefter and ESPN for breach of privacy in February 2016.{{cite news |title=Jason Pierre-Paul sues ESPN, Adam Schefter for posting medical records |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2016/02/25/giants-pierre-paul-sues-espn-schefter-for-posting-records/80894832/ |access-date=24 September 2021 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=USA TODAY |date=25 February 2016 |language=en}} In February 2017, Pierre-Paul and ESPN settled the lawsuit.{{cite news |title=ESPN, Pierre-Paul settle lawsuit |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18614230/jason-pierre-paul-espn-settle-lawsuit |access-date=24 September 2021 |work=ESPN.com |date=3 February 2017 |language=en}}

In November 2015, Schefter was named The Cynopsis Sports Media Personality of the Year, which is presented annually to an individual whose work in the sports industry has transcended how sports connect with fans. In the same year, he was named honorable mention for Sports Illustrated Now's 2015 Media Person of the Year,{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2015/12/21/si-sports-media-awards-2015|title=SI Media Awards: Richard Deitsch names best, worst|first=Richard|last=Deitsch|date=December 21, 2015 }} and 2015 Sports Media Personality of the Year by the Tampa Bay Times.{{cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/tvradio/tom-jones-reviews-the-year-in-sports-media/2259260/ |title=Tom Jones reviews the year in sports media |date=28 December 2015 |work=Tampa Bay Times}}

In January 2017, Schefter accepted an unpaid position on the advisory board of the Pacific Pro Football League.{{cite news |title=Pacific Pro Football League for non-NFL-eligible players to debut |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18449983/new-pacific-pro-football-league-debut-summer-2018 |access-date=24 September 2021 |work=ESPN.com |date=11 January 2017 |language=en}} Soon afterward, he stepped down to avoid any perception of a conflict of interest.{{cite news |last1=Florio |first1=Mike |author1-link=Mike Florio |title=ESPN declines to say whether Adam Schefter's investment in gambling firm violates company policy |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/09/23/espn-declines-to-say-whether-adam-schefters-investment-in-gambling-firm-violates-company-policy/ |access-date=24 September 2021 |work=ProFootballTalk.com |date=23 September 2021}}

Schefter joined the NBA on ESPN team for multiple games as a sideline reporter in 2017. His first assignment was February 15 between the New York Knicks and the Oklahoma City Thunder. ESPN presented Schefter with the opportunity to work select NBA games as part of his new contract.{{Cite web |url=http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/nfl-adam-schefter-signs-extension-with-espn-that-includes-basketball-coverage-113016 |title=NFL: Adam Schefter Signs Extension with ESPN That Includes Basketball Coverage |date=November 30, 2016 |website=FOX Sports |language=en-US |access-date=May 1, 2019}}

In February 2017, ESPN Audio launched Schefter's "Know Them From Adam"{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/espnradio/podcast/archive/_/id/18339885|title=Know Them From Adam Show - PodCenter - ESPN Radio|website=ESPN Radio}} podcast, featuring long-form conversations with newsmakers who have a connection to football. He is also an annual "NFL Combine Football Career Conference" speaker for the online sports-career training school Sports Management Worldwide.{{Cite web|title=Adam Schefter {{!}} SMWW Mentor {{!}}|url=https://www.sportsmanagementworldwide.com/users/adam-schefter|access-date=2020-12-09|website=www.sportsmanagementworldwide.com|language=en}}

In September 2021, Timothy L. O'Brien of Bloomberg reported that Schefter had invested in the sports gambling company Boom Entertainment, and questioned whether that interest could affect his reporting.{{cite news |last1=O'Brien |first1=Timothy L. |author1-link=Timothy L. O'Brien |title=Disney Builds a New Magic Kingdom in Sports Betting |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-09-23/disney-wants-to-build-sports-gambling-s-future-on-espn |access-date=24 September 2021 |work=Bloomberg.com |date=23 September 2021 |language=en}}

In June 2021, an email Schefter sent to Bruce Allen (then the general manager of the Washington Redskins) was filed as an exhibit in federal court as part of a defamation suit by Washington Football Team owner Daniel Snyder against an Indian media company. The message included a draft of an unpublished article about the 2011 NFL lockout which Schefter asked Allen to review and suggest changes to, and referred to Allen as "Mr. Editor".{{cite news |author1=Sam Farmer |author2=Nathan Fenno |author1-link=Sam Farmer |title=Jon Gruden emails were part of June court filing by WFT owner Dan Snyder |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2021-10-12/nfl-jon-gruden-emails-washington-football-team |access-date=13 October 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=13 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013125557/https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2021-10-12/nfl-jon-gruden-emails-washington-football-team |archive-date=13 October 2021 |url-status=live |language=en}} In response, Schefter stated that checking information with sources is a widespread practice.{{cite news |title=Adam Schefter Comments On His Bruce Allen E-Mails |url=https://975thefanatic.com/2021/10/13/adam-schefter-comments-on-his-bruce-allen-e-mails/ |access-date=13 October 2021 |work=97.5 The Fanatic |date=13 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013184158/https://975thefanatic.com/2021/10/13/adam-schefter-comments-on-his-bruce-allen-e-mails/ |archive-date=13 October 2021 |url-status=live |language=en}} However, according to Joe Rivera of Sporting News, allowing a source to review an entire piece is a significant breach of journalistic ethics.{{cite news |last1=Rivera |first1=Joe |title=What did Adam Schefter's email say? Why NFL insider's reported email situation is a big deal |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/what-did-adam-schefter-nfl-insider-email-say/vuva5491y7x6188sbbmwmifyt |access-date=13 October 2021 |work=Sporting News |date=13 October 2021 |language=en}} Schefter's actions were also criticized by writer and former ESPN host Jemele Hill. Later, Schefter issued a statement through ESPN which stated that while he did not give editorial control over the story to Allen, sending it to him had been a mistake.{{cite news |last1=Flynn |first1=Kerry |title=ESPN reporter sought approval from former Washington Football Team exec Bruce Allen on unpublished story |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/13/media/espn-adam-schefter-bruce-allen-emails/index.html |access-date=14 October 2021 |work=CNN Business |publisher=CNN |date=13 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013155849/https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/13/media/espn-adam-schefter-bruce-allen-emails/index.html |archive-date=13 October 2021 |language=en}}

In 2022, Schefter was criticized for his initial report on Twitter about Dwayne Haskins's death, which many found to be insensitive as it mentioned his struggles in the NFL. Schefter later deleted the tweet and replaced it with a video tribute, as well as issuing an apology.{{Cite web |title=ESPN's Adam Schefter apologizes for 'insensitive' tweet after Dwayne Haskins' death |first=Ryan |last=Young |date=11 April 2022 |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/espn-adam-schefter-apologizes-for-insensitive-tweet-after-dwayne-haskins-death-233508836.html |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=Yahoo! Sports |language=en-US}}

Radio career

Schefter is a regular guest on numerous radio programs, including 104.3 KKFN in Denver, Colorado,{{cite web|url=http://www.1043thefan.com/2016/04/28/schefter-sam-bradford-thats-not-going-to-happen/|title=SCHEFTER: "Sam Bradford... that's not going to happen"|work=Denver's Sports Station 104.3 The Fan |date=April 28, 2016}} ESPN 980 in Washington D.C., ESPN 1000 in Chicago, Illinois, and 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.{{Cite web |url=https://975thefanatic.com/tag/adam-schefter/ |title=Adam Schefter Archives |website=97.5 The Fanatic |access-date=May 1, 2019}}

Movie appearances

Schefter had a cameo appearance in the 2005 movie The Longest Yard.{{Cite web |date=December 4, 2014 |title=Bryan Burwell on set of 'The Longest yard' |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/multimedia/bryan-burwell-on-set-of-the-longest-yard/image_606eca5a-8b4b-5ac4-8c6a-6aa0f30e006e.html |access-date=May 1, 2019 |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |language=en}}

Personal life

In 2007, Schefter married Sharri Maio, eleven months after meeting her on a blind date.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/tech-media/2019/01/29/adam-schefter-jon-frankel-hbo-real-sports-wife-joe-maio |title=Adam Schefter opens up on HBO Real Sports |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en |access-date=May 1, 2019}} Schefter had been married once before, but it ended in divorce; Sharri's prior husband, Joe Maio, had been killed at the World Trade Center in the 9/11 attacks. Sharri brought Devon, her son with Joe who was born in the year 2000, into the marriage with Schefter. Schefter and Sharri have a daughter together named Dylan. Schefter's book about his wife's first husband and his own experience joining the family after Joe's death, titled The Man I Never Met, was released in 2018.{{cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=Paul |title=LI author talks new book, marriage to 9/11 widow |url=https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/books/adam-schefter-interview-man-never-met-1.20623644 |access-date=14 October 2021 |work=Newsday |date=29 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829194916/https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/books/adam-schefter-interview-man-never-met-1.20623644 |archive-date=29 August 2018 |url-status=live |language=en}}

Publications

The Man I Never Met: A Memoir, {{ISBN|1250161894}}, September 2018
Romo: My Life on the Edge: Living Dreams and Slaying Dragons, {{ISBN|0-06-075863-5}}, with Bill Romanowski, 2005
"Real Sports Reporting" Edited by Abraham Aamidor, 2003 (Chapter on football)
Think Like A Champion: Building Success One Victory at a Time, {{ISBN|0-06-662039-2}}, with Mike Shanahan, September 1999
TD: Dreams in Motion: The Memoirs of the Denver Broncos' Terrell Davis, {{ISBN|0-06-019282-8}}, with Terrell Davis, September 1998
The Class of Football: Words of Hard-Earned Wisdom from Legends of the Gridiron