David Eaton, VP and executive editor of NFL Media, has resigned after reports that he engaged in hundreds of sexually explicit exchanges on Twitter with porn stars and prostitutes over several years.
“Last night, David Eaton tendered his resignation from NFL Media effective immediately,” the league said in a statement Wednesday.
Eaton, who joined the NFL in 2011, oversaw news operations for the NFL Network and NFL.com. Before joining the league, he had been a bureau chief at ABC News in L.A. and Atlanta.
Eaton’s resignation — and his Twitter history — were first reported by Deadspin. According to Deadspin, the NFL exec on Dec. 12 deleted interactions on his Twitter account with several hundred adult-film stars, prostitutes and paid escorts before deleting the account entirely. The website also quoted a former employee saying the atmosphere there was a “toxic cesspool.”
The exit of Eaton comes as NFL Network has been accused of widespread sexual harassment. Last week, NFL Network suspended on-air analysts Marshall Faulk, Ike Taylor and Heath Evans as it investigated claims in a lawsuit by former wardrobe stylist Jami Cantor, who alleged being the target of multiple instances of sexual harassment.
Also named in Cantor’s suit was Eric Weinberger, former executive producer at NFL Network who is currently president of Bill Simmons’ The Ringer digital-media startup. Last week The Ringer said it placed Weinberger on indefinite leave as it investigated his history at the NFL.