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NFL legend and former Super Bowl winner Bernie Kosar has been fired from his radio gig with the Cleveland Browns.
This came after Bernie became one of the first people in the state of Ohio to place a legal sports bet after sportsbooks officially opened at midnight on January 1st.
Here is the moment Bernie Kosar placed a $19,000 bet on the Cleveland Browns’ moneyline (+120) against the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 1st just after midnight:
THE FIRST BET IN OHIO 🚨
Bernie Kosar just bet $19,000 on Cleveland Browns Moneyline😳@BernieKosarQB @tipico #Browns pic.twitter.com/5V4baqN2Jw
— BIGPLAY (@BIGPLAY) January 1, 2023
Had he won that bet (he didn’t), that money was going to be donated to charity:
.@BernieKosarQB bet $19K on the #Browns on @tipico as the first sports bet in Ohio 😳
He's donating the money to charity if he wins that bet today.#RideWithBernie: https://t.co/n5ddoQOQQi pic.twitter.com/k5DpFnnrrX
— The Hanford Dixon Show (@TopDawgShow) January 8, 2023
Flash forward to Week 18, just hours before the Cleveland Browns faced the Pittsburgh Steelers and lost 14-28 and Bernie Kosar tweeted that he had lost his job:
Steelers GameDay yet once again I was informed by the Browns that my services are no longer desired or needed. I will not be doing todays radio program.I am shocked & disappointed 😢Brown & Orange is my life 🏈 #UMatter https://t.co/a834Gs3FSU @BernieKosarShow Go #Browns
— Bernie Kosar (@BernieKosarQB) January 8, 2023
A spokesman for the Cleveland Browns told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com why Kosar was fired:
“Earlier this week, we notified Bernie that per league policy we were required to remove him from our pregame radio coverage for the season finale after he violated the NFL gambling policy by placing a bet on an NFL game. We understand what Bernie means to his community and our history but as a team contracted personnel hired to provide content on our media platforms, his bet was a violation of NFL rules and we must adhere to all NFL policy.”
Bernie Kosar is a former quarterback for the Cleveland Browns from 1985-1993. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 1985 supplemental draft with the first overall pick and was offered a 5-year contract. After the Browns, Kosar went and won a Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys in 1993 and then played for the Dolphins from 1994-1996. This all came after he won a National Championship with the Miami Hurricanes in 1983.
It is interesting that Kosar was flat out fired. There was no warning. No announcement that he’d broken the rules. Just straight-up fired.
Cleveland Browns fans had thoughts on Twitter…
They partner with Jake Paul but fire Bernie.
Jesus Christ #Browns pic.twitter.com/W2ibW4NlIU
— Bryan Shaw (@WxShaw) January 8, 2023
— Nick Karns (@karnsies817) January 8, 2023
Saddened to hear this, Bernie. For many of us, you ARE Cleveland and forever a Browns 🙌🏽🌹
— Lisa Catara 💎 (@lisa_catara) January 8, 2023
Even Steelers fans are bothered by the firing:
Makes zero sense. Kosar is the man! And that’s coming from a Steeler fan.
— Tim Irr (@WSAZirr) January 8, 2023
Bernie Kosar lost the $19,000 bet on the Cleveland Browns’ moneyline along with his job. Just a brutal weekend all around.