Collection

Did Bad Officiating Kill Fran Tarkenton's Father?

Over the years, Snopes has looked into a variety of claims about the National Football League, its players, teams and coaches.

by Joey Esposito, Nov. 20, 2003

Image courtesy of Getty Images

Along with a chill in the air and the leaves changing colors, a surefire sign of autumn's arrival is the kickoff of another season of gridiron action in the National Football League. With the 2025-26 season officially underway, it's time to dig through the Snopes archives for a collection of rumors we've investigated related to the league.

From claims of the league operating as a tax-exempt organization to former players assuming positions in the second administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and musical artists like Beyoncé being banned from performing at halftime shows, rumors about the NFL have run the gamut over the years.

Here are 25 rumors Snopes has fact-checked about the NFL, its teams, its players and its coaches, dating back to 2003:

By Joey Esposito

Joey Esposito has written for a variety of entertainment publications. He's into music, video games ... and birds.

Close up of Travis Kelce sitting in front of a microphone while wearing a red Kansas City Chiefs shirt.

Story about Travis Kelce donating bonus, endorsements to homeless nonprofit still false

Sept. 11, 2025

The feel-good rumor was just as fake in September 2025 as it was in March the same year.

Did Taylor Swift offer 'exclusive anthem,' sponsorships to NFL teams pledging LGBTQ+ support?

Sept. 5, 2025

NFL quarterbacks, including the Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes, allegedly rejected Swift's ...

Don't fall for claim former Green Bay Packers coach Mike Holmgren died

Aug. 26, 2025

The latest death hoax appeared online in late August 2025.

Former NFL linebacker tapped by Trump for new sports council is registered sex offender

Aug. 5, 2025

A New York court ordered Lawrence Taylor to register himself after he pleaded guilty to sexual m ...

No, Super Bowl LIX champions the Philadelphia Eagles didn't decline White House invite

Feb. 25, 2025

Though Trump's White House rescinded an invitation to the championship Eagles in 2018, officials ...

Posts About NFL Suspending Referees from Chiefs-Bills Game Are False

Jan. 29, 2025

The rumor appeared on Facebook in January 2025 following the Kansas City Chiefs' 32-29 AFC champ ...

Detroit Lions Didn't Make Reported $50M Donation to LA Fire Recovery

Jan. 16, 2025

A team spokesperson said the team was "still discussing our support efforts."

False Rumors of Referee Firings Promoted in Facebook Posts

Jan. 4, 2025

Users from Indonesia, Nigeria and other countries posted untrue rumors of NBA, NCAA, NFL and NHL ...

NFL Restricted Beyoncé from Performing at Christmas Halftime Show?

Nov. 29, 2024

They allegedly said, “She’s not a good artist.”

Patriots Owner Robert Kraft Said No 'Anthem Kneeling' at Gillette Stadium Ever Again?

Sept. 23, 2024

The New England Patriots owner allegedly said the team's stadium will be a place where the natio ...

Kansas City Chiefs Refused to Host Pride Night?

Sept. 19, 2024

"We appreciate your courage to go against the flow," wrote one Facebook commenter.

NFL 'Ruled' There's Only 1 National Anthem?

Sept. 12, 2024

One Facebook user who shared the rumor said: "About time they decided to take a stand."

An image of Black athletes wearing purple uniforms is shown next to a white man wearing a black suit speaking at a podium.

No, Minnesota Vikings Didn't Denounce Walz

Sept. 6, 2024

One person who shared the rumor on Facebook tagged a friend and said: "Go Vikings!!!"

Colin Kaepernick Unemployed, Broke and Freeloading off Former Teammates?

July 9, 2024

A Facebook post claimed one of Kaepernick's old teammates wanted the former NFL player off of th ...

No, Tucker Carlson Didn't Vow To Kill Himself If the Chiefs Won the Super Bowl

Feb. 14, 2024

The claim went viral after their victory, but it originated from an X account that publishes satire.

Is Beyoncé Facing $10B Loss After 'Black National Anthem' NFL Performance?

Nov. 6, 2023

Since 2020, various singers have performed the hymn at NFL games before kickoff.

A rumor claimed that Patrick Mahomes was facing cheating allegations about drugs and had been caught with Erexo Plus male enhancement supplements.

New Mahomes 'Cheating Allegations' Rumor Falsely Claims He Took Male Enhancement Pills

Feb. 21, 2023

What made this second drug rumor about 2023 Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes more dangerous was th ...

Did the NFL Admit to Rigging Games?

Jan. 24, 2018

A deceptive video about rigged football games created by a "satire" Facebook page spread quickly ...

Aaron Rodgers Photographed Holding 'Stand For the Flag, Kneel for the Cross' T-Shirt?

Sept. 25, 2017

A photograph purportedly showing Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers holding a "Stand fo ...

NFL Fines Pittsburgh Steelers $1M Each for Skipping National Anthem?

Sept. 24, 2017

Reports that the NFL was fining Pittsburgh Steelers players $1 million each for staying in their ...

Did Patriots QB Tom Brady Flip Off the NFL Commissioner?

Feb. 6, 2017

A photograph of 2017 Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady subtly "flipping the bird" at NFL commissioner Rog ...

Minnesota Vikings Open Their Stadium to Shelter the Homeless

Dec. 19, 2016

Several news outlets filed reports incorrectly stating that the Minnesota Vikings had opened the ...

NFL Fining Players for Wearing 9/11 Memorial Cleats?

Sept. 12, 2016

Rumor held that the NFL fined players for violating league uniform rules by wearing 9/11 memoria ...

Is the NFL a Tax-Exempt Non-Profit Organization?

Sept. 19, 2014

Claims that the National Football League pays no taxes on billions of dollars in profits because ...

Did Bad Officiating Kill Fran Tarkenton's Father?

Nov. 20, 2003

Rumor holds that bad referees' calls during an NFL playoff game contributed to the death of Viki ...

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