Are the Jaguars finally getting their money back? If true, this is only a fraction, which is $5 million, of the $20 million lost in theft by a former Jaguars employee. But despite the loss, fans have called out owner Shad Khan’s Jaguars for the mistakes. So, who is at fault?

A former Jaguars employee, Amit Patel, a mid-level finance manager for the franchise, was charged with using a team-issued virtual credit card. He has since pleaded guilty to using $22 million. And most of his spending was on fantasy sports. He lost around $20 million to FanDuel, which is a huge amount. As recently reported by Adam Schefter, the sportsbook will pay $5 million to the franchise.

“FanDuel has agreed to pay the Jaguars approximately $5 million to compensate for the nearly $20 million that a former Jacksonville employee stole from the team and deposited at the sportsbook, multiple sources told @Xuan_Thai and @DVNJr :,” he wrote on X.

Court filings detail Patel’s lavish lifestyle while employed by the Jaguars, including chartered private jets, luxury hotel reservations, and multiple vehicle purchases. The accusations also encompass cryptocurrency investments, country club membership fees, spa treatments, and an expensive luxury wristwatch. The allegations paint a picture of excessive spending that prosecutors claim was funded through the fraudulent scheme.

The Jaguars may not have even had the hope for $5 million a year ago when FanDuel reportedly refused to pay. After the incident, while the NFL didn’t reportedly “participate“, the league encouraged the Jaguars and FanDuel to resolve the dispute. However, sources involved in the discussion reported, “The way [FanDuel] see[s] it … we got this money fair and clear. It’s not our problem that we have to forfeit it back to you.“

According to reports, the NFL encouraged both the Jaguars and FanDuel to settle their dispute. An unnamed source told ESPN that FanDuel “was motivated to pay the Jaguars in the interest of being a good partner with the league.” FanDuel’s status as an official NFL betting partner created significant motivation to resolve the issue quickly. With only one NFL in existence, losing that partnership would hand a major competitive advantage to rival sportsbooks, making cooperation essential for FanDuel’s business interests.

While the amount is nowhere close to what is lost by the team, fans and netizens are shocked at how such a big amount could be mishandled by the franchise. “$5 mil for $20 mil? Who got the shaft? And how do u let $20 mil slip under ur nose and not notice?” one netizen wrote. There have been several arguments, with many criticizing the franchise.

Shad Khan’s Jaguars get criticised over legal dispute

For a franchise to lose such a huge amount was shocking for many. According to court documents, Patel lost approximately $1 million to DraftKings. Following this, he was sentenced to six and a half years in prison in 2024 in Alabama. While there is a question as to why FanDuel accepted a huge amount without knowing if he was putting his own money, fans have also argued why the franchise was unaware of it.

“Crazy how a former employee can mess up like that, but it’s wild that FanDuel has to cover for it. Just goes to show the lengths teams gotta go to protect their cash!” another wrote. Now, this isn’t limited to FanDuel. The Jaguars have sued Patel and demanded $66.6 million.

“Knowing them, they are probably making all the employees take a pay cut over this,” one wrote, suggesting that the other employees may have taken a hit in their salaries due to this issue. This is quite unlikely.

Moreover, Patel has also sued the sportsbook and sought $250 million in damages, claiming FanDuel took advantage of his gambling addiction and ignored the necessary protocols, as reported by ESPN. He was diagnosed with a gambling disorder in March 2023. Regardless, netizens have criticized the franchise for not being careful enough with its money. While the Sportsbook sought to dismiss the case with Patel, this is still ongoing. This is what has been confirmed to date.