Former NFL GM Had Major Role At Company Accused Of Scamming Players

Former Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim had significant ties to a company accused of scamming former NFL players out of more than $1 million, according to newly surfaced documents and interviews with investors. 

A November 2025 pitch deck from Motion Ventures obtained by Pro Football Talk identified Keim as the company’s “chief operation/growth officer.” Keim was the only person besides company founder Mohamed Coulibaly featured in the deck.

“Steve plays a critical role in guiding expansion strategy, evaluating new opportunities, and supporting leadership across divisions by navigating high-stakes decision-making, managing large budgets, and leading multidisciplinary teams as Motion Ventures continues to scale nationally and internationally,” the pitch deck said.

Several former NFL players told Barron’s that Keim’s involvement helped give them confidence in Coulibaly and his business. The athletes said they participated in conference calls that included Keim, while Coulibaly told Barron’s in May that Keim was the chief operating officer of Motion Ventures.

Keim confirmed to ESPN that he was, in fact, working with the head of the company, promoting it to friends, family, and players who asked about the venture. However, he did explicitly state that he never received salary or insurance and eventually suffered a seven-figure loss from his investments.

He added that Coulibaly used his name to “legitimize” the business without officially putting his name in any part of the company, which he discovered when meeting with a banker about Motion Ventures.

The pitch deck also claimed that Seahawks general manager John Schneider, Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter, and numerous current and former Eagles players were “notable clients and partners.”

Barron’s first reported allegations against Motion Ventures in July, when three former NFL players said they had collectively lost more than $1 million after investing in a “larger pooled ‘escrow’ structure” through Coulibaly’s business. The players alleged that sales data provided for the stores had been falsified, giving them the impression that the businesses were generating sales while they waited for returns on their investments. 

None of the three athletes received money back. Initially, they invested in the other aspect of Motion Ventures, Shopify-powered online stores, where they received “at least some financial returns that they invested,” according to ESPN.

Coulibaly disputed the fraud allegations before his death.

“I strongly dispute a number of the factual assertions and characterizations contained in the Barron’s article and any follow-up reporting that relies upon them,” Coulibaly told the New York Post.

No arrests have been made, and no criminal charges have been filed in connection with the allegations against Motion Ventures. 

Tae Crowder, former linebacker for the New York Giants, told ESPN that he is still seeking answers and trying to recover his money, and may file claims against Coulibaly’s estate. Despite concerns from his financial adviser, Crowder invested $500,000 in Motion Ventures and saw no money returned to him.

Coulibaly, 24, was found dead late last month in the swimming pool of a New Jersey home, as reported by ABC. Authorities discovered his body while performing a welfare check requested by a concerned family member, after his family members called to check in on his well-being.

Authorities have not released a cause of death, and the investigation remains ongoing. 

Keim spent 24 years in the Cardinals organization, serving as general manager from 2013 until his departure following the 2022 season. Before becoming GM, he held several positions in the team’s front office, including regional college scout, director of college scouting, and vice president of player personnel. 

Keim joined Klutch Sports Group as general manager of its football division in 2024 and left the company in March 2026.

Keim previously declined to discuss Motion Ventures when contacted by Barron’s in May, saying he could not comment on the business without Coulibaly’s permission. He did not respond to another request for comment from Barron’s following Coulibaly’s death.