As NFL teams scramble to sign free-agent players, three of them are facing accusations of illegal tampering. This could cause potential punishment from the National Football League. The teams involved are the Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, and Washington Commanders, and the incident centers around a player from the Baltimore Ravens. Offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley decided to return to the Ravens, signing a three-year, $60 million deal, two days before the legal tampering period was set to begin.
It later emerged on NBC Sports Boston that the Chiefs, Patriots, and Commanders had reached out to Stanley and his agency while he was still under contract with the Ravens, offering deals worth over $20 million annually. Stanley was one of the most sought after offensive linemen during this off-season. This could be a huge issue for these teams.
Photo Cred: USA Today
While discussing the situation with NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer noted, “I’m not sure how far they went. Obviously, this stuff was spoken about conceptually, I guess is the best way to put it. Some free agency stuff may have happened over the weekend.” Perry suggested that this might be an example of illegal tampering.
Illegal tampering occurs when a team engages in communication with the representatives or agents of another team’s free agents prior to the official start of the legal tampering period. This period begins on Monday afternoon at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, allowing teams to make contact with the agents of players who are set to become free agents. However, before this time, any discussions or negotiations regarding potential contracts are considered tampering. Teams are not permitted to discuss the terms of deals, salaries, or any other specific contract details with players or their representatives before the legal tampering window opens.
This is not the first time tampering has been an issue in the league. The most recent incident took place last year when the Atlanta Falcons were found guilty of tampering during the negotiating process with free agents Kirk Cousins (quarterback), Darnell Mooney (wide receiver), and Charlie Woerner (tight end). The Falcons were fined $250,000, and general manager Terry Fontenot received a $50,000 fine, in addition to losing their fifth-round draft pick in 2025.
Photo Cred: USA Today
Another notable case occurred in 2022 when the Miami Dolphins were found guilty of tampering with retired quarterback Tom Brady and former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. The Dolphins faced severe penalties, including a $1.5 million fine, the loss of their 2023 first-round draft pick, and the forfeiture of their 2024 draft pick. The NFL has yet to comment on the allegations involving the Chiefs, Patriots, and Commanders.
