ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter is widely regarded as one of the best in the business when it comes to the accuracy of his scoops around the NFL. But according to Schefter himself, his own father has doubted his accuracy before.
Prior to the 2018 NFL Draft, it was largely unclear as to who would be selected by the Cleveland Browns with the No. 1 overall pick. The likes of Sam Darnold and even Saquon Barkley received the majority of the buzz throughout much of the pre-draft process as a potential option for Cleveland with the top pick.
But behind the scenes, Baker Mayfield slowly emerged as the option that the Browns would end up going with, which gained steam shortly after Adam Schefter reported on the matter just two days before the draft.
Just to add a bit more murkiness to top of draft: one NFL executive said this morning that Baker Mayfield is “definitely” in Cleveland’s conversation to become the No. 1 overall pick.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 24, 2018
On the Week 4 edition of Sunday NFL Countdown, a segment aired where Schefter explained the report and how shortly after received a text from his father that claimed his report on Mayfield going first overall was “fake news”.
“Tuesday, April 24th, I remember getting a call from a prominent front office executive,” said Schefter. “Who said ‘You are aware of the fact that Baker Mayfield might go No. 1 overall?’ And I’m like really? Nobody was talking about Baker Mayfield at number one.
“My father, my own father, texts me ‘Did I hear you say something about Mayfield going to the Browns?’ I said ‘yeah’ and my father texted me back ‘fake news.’ When your own father tells you fake news – I gotta tell you something, I was a little pissed off at Jerry Schefter.”
.@AdamSchefter is so good, sometimes his own dad doesn’t believe him 🤣 pic.twitter.com/4VwzBaJ2yo
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) September 29, 2024
Schefter can likely have a good laugh about this situation after the fact and likely doesn’t let his dad live it down whenever they get together.
But in the moment, it really must have been a bit of a gut punch to have your own father calling your sources into question.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.