In 2009, Adam Schefter joined ESPN as an NFL insider after years in the same role at NFL Network. With that same network now under the ESPN umbrella, the Worldwide Leader in Sports has a larger pool to choose from in designating Schefter’s eventual replacement.

According to Front Office Sports, the job Schefter has held for upwards of a decade could go to longtime NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport in the future. Per the report, ESPN “intends to keep Rapoport” as his contract expires next month.

“Exclusive: ESPN leadership is high on NFL Network stars Ian Rapoport and Daniel Jeremiah, who are seen as possible longterm successors to Adam Schefter and Mel Kiper Jr. ESPN intends to keep Rapoport, whose deal is up next month, FOS has learned,” the outlet reported on Thursday.

The only choice?

Rapoport is already a very popular NFL figure in his own right. His 5.1 million followers on X already make him the second-most popular NFL insider in the industry with Schefter being the only one more popular. Other longtime insiders like Jay Glazer, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero have less than 3 million followers combined.

That said, Rapoport still isn’t on Schefter’s level. At 11 million followers on X, Schefter is basically more popular on his own than pretty much the entire rest of the industry combined.

But when Schefter finally does call it a career, be that in a year, five years or 15 years, those followers will have to flock somewhere and Rapoport’s feed seems like the obvious choice.

It would also be a fascinating full circle moment for Rapoport as well. Soon after Schefter left the NFL Network to join ESPN, Rapoport was hired and ultimately replaced Schefter in the same role. Rapoport taking on Schefter’s role at ESPN would be a logical next step.

That said, Schefter has made very little indication that he’ll be ready to leave ESPN or the field of NFL insider reporting for a long time.

Fearne Cotton has broken her silence on split from husband Jesse Wood in her first TV interview since the breakup.

Joining Lorraine Kelly on Monday’s episode of the ITV show, the TV presenter, 43, also gave an health update after having two tumours removed from jaw.

Fearne announced her split from Jesse, the son of Rolling Stones bass guitarist Ronnie Wood, in December after 10 years of marriage.

She has since made swipes at Jesse and moved on with TV director Elliot Hegarty, with the pair having been seen kissing during a recent night out.

Fearne has had a difficult few months after undergoing surgery to remove two benign tumours from her jawline, just days before her split with Jesse emerged.

She told host Lorraine: ‘It’s all very amicable and kids are doing great. I am in a very good place.’place.’

Fearne Cotton has broken her silence on split from husband Jesse Wood in her first TV interview since the breakup

Fearne announced her split from Jesse, the son of Rolling Stones bass guitarist Ronnie Wood , in December after 10 years of marriage (both pictured in February 2024)

Discussing her recent surgery, she added: ‘I feel very grateful to have completely recovered.

‘I feel really good. I have a lot of people reaching out who have had the same thing.’

Davina McCall, 56, announced in November she’d been diagnosed with a colloid cyst, a rare type of benign brain tumour, and has supported Fearne.

She continued: ‘Everyone needs a Davina. She’s been amazing, weird that we had the same health thing going on at the same time. She’s so calming and we speak every day. She is just the best

It comes after Fearne has seemingly made another thinly-veiled dig at her ex-husband as she gushed that she is the happiest she’s ever been in a positive update.

Speaking to Scott Mills on his BBC Radio 2 breakfast show, Fearne gushed that she is ‘really happy’ and is ‘springing out of bed in the morning ready for life’.

Scott, who has known Fearne for 25 years, said he has never seen her ‘more positive or happier’, prompting Fearne to agree and reply: ‘Yeah I feel great!’

She told how her health scare has changed her outlook and said she has been seeking comfort from Davina.

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Joining Lorraine Kelly on Monday’s episode of the ITV show, the TV presenter, 43, also gave an health update after having two tumours removed from jaw