Bernie Kosar Fired By Cleveland Browns a Week After Placing the First Legal Sports Bet in Ohio
Bernie Kosar placed the first legal sports bet in Ohio as the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve. Today Kosar was fired by the Cleveland Browns. He announced the news on Twitter saying that he was "informed by the Browns that my services are no longer desired or needed. I will not be doing today's radio program. I am shocked & disappointed."
Steelers GameDay yet once again I was informed by the Browns that my services are no longer desired or needed. I will not be doing todays radio program.I am shocked & disappointed 😢Brown & Orange is my life 🏈 #UMatter https://t.co/a834Gs3FSU @BernieKosarShow Go #Browns
— Bernie Kosar (@BernieKosarQB) January 8, 2023
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com says that the decision was related to Kosar's highly publicized $19,000 on the Browns to beat the Steelers today. According to that article Kosar is a "regular guest on Browns radio programming throughout the season, including scheduled segments on Cleveland Browns Daily and the team’s pregame program shows."
Former #Browns QB Bernie Kosar says the team told him Sunday his services are 'no longer desired or needed' -- but a league source tells clevelanddotcom it's connected to the $19K bet he placed today on #Browns vs. #Steelers https://t.co/aSX5gNDKaP
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) January 8, 2023
Kosar had discussed the bet on the radio this week, saying he would donate the winnings to charity.
.@BernieKosarQB bet $19K on the #Browns on @tipico as the first sports bet in Ohio 😳
— Bernie Kosar Show w/ Hanford Dixon (@BernieKosarShow) January 8, 2023
He's donating the money to charity if he wins that bet today.#RideWithBernie: https://t.co/n5ddoQOQQi pic.twitter.com/k5DpFnnrrX
And here's a clip from the local news that mentions Kosar's bet.
NFL team employees are still not allowed to gamble, no matter how entangled the league is with various casinos and sports books. Doesn't make it seem any less silly when someone gets in trouble for a legally placed bet, but those are the rules.