Bernie Kosar accuses media company of forcing him to make bet that cost him Browns radio job

Former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar is suing the media company BIGPLAY Network, claiming that it compelled him to place a bet that wound up costing him his job as an analyst for the Cleveland NFL team’s radio broadcasts.

Kosar, now 60, made a $19,000 bet at Tipico Sportsbook, a sponsor of BIGPLAY, and wound up getting fired from his $200,000-per-year job as an analyst on the Browns’ pregame show, as the NFL prohibits team-affiliated personnel from gambling on the league.

As covered by Legal Sports Report, Kosar filed a civil suit against BIGPLAY seeking $850,000 in damages.

The wager was to commemorate the launch of legal sports betting in Ohio, and Kosar’s suit claimed that he had been told 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.”

When an executive allegedly told him he had to bet real money, Kosar said in the suit that he agreed to “in a show of good will.” 

Kosar’s bet, which was on the Browns to beat the Steelers on Jan. 8, 2023, lost as Pittsburgh won the game, 28-14.

“Had Defendant BIGPLAY not wrongfully required Mr. Kosar to personally wager his funds on the TIPICO app on December 31, 2022, Mr. Kosar would have maintained his contract and compensation with the Cleveland Browns,” the suit said.

“As a direct and proximate result of Defendant BIGPLAY’s breach of contract, Plaintiff has been injured and damaged in an of at least $650,000.00, for which Defendant BIGPLAY is liable, plus interest and costs.”

Kosar apologized shortly after the initial imbroglio for making the bet.

“I’m sorry I had to put them in this position,” Kosar said, referring to both the Browns and the NFL. “I didn’t want to put them in this position. But because I’m not an employee (I’m an independent contractor), I didn’t think this was going to be an issue.”

Kosar said he would’ve donated the winnings to charity if the Browns had won the game.

He added, “In no way do you want to put them on the spot. And in no way was this done in the interest of benefiting us. It was 100% was going to help people and ex-players that really need it.”