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Bernie Kosar is suing an Ohio-based media company, BIGPLAY Media, accusing it of getting him fired after Kosar placed an ceremonial bet on air. The NFL fired Kosar for violating its gambling policy.
Cleveland.com first reported that Kosar's suit claims a contract violation.
Kosar previously hosted The Bernie Kosar Show for BIGPLAY, which operates a studio out of Cleveland and provides on-air content for Bally Sports Ohio and Bally Sports Great Lakes.
Awful Announcing explained the meat of the suit:
In the lawsuit, the 60-year-old former quarterback says that while he agreed to place a bet using the platform of one of BIGPLAY’s sponsors once sports gambling became legal in Ohio at the start of 2023, his contract stipulated that he would “not be liable, nor responsible, for the amount of the wager nor will be entitled to any winnings that may occur as a result of the wager.” But upon arriving at the event, Kosar says that BIGPLAY co-manager David McAllester told him he would have to use his own money to place the advertised $19,000 bet on the Browns to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers the following week, which he agreed to do “in a show of good will.”
Not only was Kosar fired, the bet ended up losing.
The suit further claims a violent threat allegedly made by BIGPLAY CEO Kendall Myles, who he says told him “I own you” and screamed in his face.
.@BernieKosarQB bet $19K on the #Browns on @tipico as the first sports bet in Ohio
— The Hanford Dixon Show (@TopDawgShow) 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
Kosar is reportedly seeking $850,000 in damages, at least $25,000 in attorney’s fees and an unspecified amount of punitive damages.
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