After an investigation into the Miami Dolphins and owner Stephen Ross for allegations of tampering, the NFL announced on Tuesday that the league’s investigation “conclusively established violations of the Anti-Tampering Policy” on three different occasions.
The NFL conducted an investigation into two subjects. First, whether the Dolphins violated NFL rules prohibiting tampering with a player and a coach under contract to other clubs. Second, the NFL examined whether, during the 2019 season, the team intentionally lost games to improve the team’s draft position, and whether owner Stephen Ross offered financial incentives to coaches to lose games.
According to the investigation, the NFL found that the Dolphins had “impermissible communications” with quarterback Tom Brady in 2019 and 2020 when he was under contract with the New England Patriots. According to the NFL’s statement, the communications “began as early as August 2019 and continued throughout the 2019 season.”
