Denver Broncos defensive end Eyioma Uwazurike has been suspended indefinitely for violating the NFL betting policy.
Uwazurike received his minimum one-year ban for wagering on NFL games last season, the league announced Monday.
Uwazurike will be eligible for reinstatement from his NFL betting suspension no earlier than July 24, 2024.
“The NFL confirmed today that Eyioma Uwazurike of the Denver Broncos has been suspended indefinitely for betting on NFL games in the 2022 season. Uwazurike will be eligible to petition for reinstatement no earlier than July 24, 2024,” the league said in a statement.
Broncos react to Uwazurike ban
Uwazurike, 25, was selected No. 116 overall by the Broncos in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he recorded 17 tackles.
The Broncos also released a statement:
“We were informed by the NFL that Eyioma Uwazurike has been suspended by the league indefinitely for violating its gambling policy. Our organization fully cooperated with this investigation and takes matters pertaining to the integrity of the game very seriously.”
NFL betting bans by the numbers
Uwazurike has become the 10th player to be suspended this year for at least a full season for violating the league’s gambling policy.
He joins:
- Rashod Berry
- Stanley Berryhill
- Quintez Cephus
- CJ Moore
- Nicholas Petit-Frere (six games)
- Isaiah Rodgers Sr.
- Demetrius Taylor
- Shaka Toney
- Jameson Williams (six games)
League pushes gambling policies
The NFL recently attempted to increase awareness among players and staff regarding its gambling policies.
It has also conducted in-person education sessions at the team facilities. In its presentation to players, the league reiterated its two major rules:
- Don’t bet on the NFL.
- Don’t gamble at work — including from your phone.
NFL striving for improvement
Still, the league continues to face increased scrutiny due to the recent uptick in NFL betting suspensions, dating back to last season.
The league has several sportsbook partnerships, and cannot afford to continually have its integrity come into question. It is unclear whether there are any other outstanding cases from 2022.
“Hopefully next summer we’ll see a lot less, because what’s happening this year should be a really good deterrent to athletes,” US Integrity founder and CEO Matt Holt told LSR. “It’s like, ‘Hey, don’t log in at practice, man. Stay off the betting apps during practice.’”
Broncos coach on NFL betting policy
Broncos coach Sean Payton recently addressed the team’s gambling education efforts, per ESPN:
“We got a packet from the league,” Payton said. “Obviously, when policies change, it’s our job to educate [the players]. [Vice president of football operations and compliance] Mark Thewes was awesome. We’re professional teachers. The packet we received, we looked at, studied [it] closely and then we presented it in our own PowerPoint. I probably had 20 minutes on it to really make sure everyone has it.
“If you’re a teacher and half your class gets a D, you better look at yourself. It’s not the policy, but it’s the implementation, the understanding, and the educating of the policy. I presented a week and a half ago, and now someone officially will present [it]. Hopefully it won’t be from that eight-page handout we received because that was more confusing after I read it than it was before I looked at it. I think we’re all on the same page.”
