Steve Keim, the former general manager and league executive of the year for the Arizona Cardinals, is reportedly implicated in multiple schemes. Among these accusations is a claim by former Cardinals player DeAndre Hopkins that Keim orchestrated a situation leading to a failed NFL drug test, costing Hopkins $13 million in guaranteed money.
Hopkins stated on social media that he was "set up" by Keim, then his GM, with a "contaminated drug test." This test resulted in a suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. While an independent expert suggested the banned substance likely came from a contaminated supplement, the NFL upheld the suspension due to players' strict liability. The suspension significantly impacted Hopkins financially, costing him approximately $13 million in guaranteed contract money and voiding his no-trade clause. The accusations and Keim's alleged reply have since been deleted from social media.
Keim, who was unavailable for comment, has reportedly told associates he had no connection to the Hopkins issue, stating it would not make sense to harm a player. Keim stepped down as the Cardinals' general manager in January 2023, following a leave of absence for health reasons. He had previously pleaded guilty to extreme DUI in 2018 and was suspended by the team.
Beyond the Hopkins allegations, Keim's name has also surfaced in connection with an alleged investment scam. Barron's reported in mid-July that Keim was involved with Mohamed Coulibaly, who is accused of defrauding NFL players of hundreds of thousands of dollars through fake Shopify stores. Keim reportedly participated in investor calls for Motion Ventures, a company where he was identified as the chief operation/growth officer on a pitch deck. Multiple NFL players have expressed skepticism about investment opportunities but noted that Keim's name could lend credibility to such ventures. Players who spoke anonymously to Fox News Digital did not allege direct contact with Keim regarding the Motion Ventures pitch.
Following his departure from the Cardinals, Keim worked for the football division of the Klutch Sports talent agency, leveraging his NFL reputation. A source indicated Keim is no longer employed by Klutch Sports. Despite these accusations, Keim has remained visible in NFL circles, attending various practice sites and speaking with team personnel since the start of training camps.