Ex-Cardinals GM Steve Keim Says He's a 'Victim' of Dead NFL Scammer

Ex-Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim has publicly declared himself a victim of a fraudulent investment scheme orchestrated by Mohamed Coulibaly, a 24-year-old entrepreneur whose body was discovered in a New Jersey swimming pool in early August. According to Keim, he lost over $1 million in the venture and was never paid a salary by Coulibaly’s e-commerce firm, Motion Ventures. This revelation came after a July 15 investigation by Barron’s journalist Jacob Adelman, which detailed how Coulibaly allegedly lured professional athletes into fake online stores, leaving three former NFL players out of a total of $1 million. Keim disclosed these details to ESPN, stating that Coulibaly used his name to add legitimacy to the operation. “I’ve not been compensated. So not only has my name been used, I’m a victim,” Keim said. A November 2025 pitch deck obtained by Pro Football Talk (PFT) listed Keim as Motion Ventures’ “chief operation/growth officer,” making him the only individual apart from Coulibaly mentioned in the document. The deck described Keim as playing a pivotal role in shaping the company’s growth strategy and managing large-scale decisions. According to Barron’s, Motion Ventures fabricated sales data to create the illusion of profitability. For instance, one store, Dailyprodtrend, recorded a $5,000 order from Luxembourg for 100 desktop humidifiers and 120 USB-powered cup warmers. The customer at the listed delivery address denied placing the order. “Who needs 100 humidifiers and 120 cup warmers?” the customer remarked to Barron’s. Several athletes associated with the venture expressed reliance on Keim’s involvement. Among them were Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter, Raiders linebacker Nakobe Dean, and former players such as Terrell Edmunds, Matt Breida, and Tae Crowder. Keim stated that he introduced the opportunity to friends and family, including Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider. He also said he confronted Coulibaly about the operation, traveling to Philadelphia days before the latter’s death to meet with bankers and has since sought legal representation. The situation gained further attention when Missouri’s attorney general launched an investigation into ESPN analyst Matt Miller over alleged fantasy football scams, and Eagles Super Bowl champion Alshon Jeffrey was arrested in April for insurance fraud. Coulibaly was found dead on July 31 in Harrison Township during a welfare check initiated by a concerned family member. As of now, authorities have not determined the cause of death, nor have any arrests or charges been filed related to the allegations against Motion Ventures. Reactions to the report have been mixed, particularly targeting Jalen Carter, whose name appeared among those linked to the venture. The pitch deck from Motion Ventures also highlighted Seahawks general manager John Schneider, Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter, and multiple current and former Eagles players as notable clients and partners. Keim confirmed to ESPN that he was indeed working with Coulibaly, promoting the venture to friends, family, and players who inquired about it. However, he emphasized that he never received compensation or insurance and ultimately suffered a seven-figure loss from his investments. He noted that Coulibaly used his name to legitimize the business without formally listing him as part of the company, a detail he uncovered during meetings with a banker regarding Motion Ventures. Tae Crowder, a former linebacker for the New York Giants, revealed to ESPN that he is still seeking answers and attempting to reclaim his $500,000 investment, despite warnings from his financial advisor. None of the three athletes who invested in Motion Ventures have received their funds back. Initially, they earned some returns from the Shopify-powered online stores, according to ESPN. Coulibaly refuted the fraud allegations prior to his death, telling the New York Post that he strongly disagreed with the factual assertions and characterizations presented in the Barron’s article and subsequent reports relying on it. Keim spent 24 years with the Arizona Cardinals, serving as general manager from 2013 until his exit after the 2022 season. Before assuming the GM role, he held various positions within the team’s front office, including regional college scout, director of college scouting, and vice president of player personnel. In 2024, he joined Klutch Sports Group as general manager of its football division and left the company in March 2026.