Collection
Is the NFL a Tax-Exempt Non-Profit Organization?
Claims about the NFL run the gamut from player gossip to rumors about controversial policies.
by Joey Esposito , Sept. 19, 2014
Image courtesy of Getty Images
The holiday season brings an influx of sweets and gift-giving, and with it family and friends gathered around the television watching as the NFL's gridiron action heats up en route to the Super Bowl. With the peak of the professional football season approaching, we've dug through the Snopes playbook to put together a collection of rumors about the league that we've investigated.
From recent rumors that Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he would refuse to attend the 2026 Super Bowl over a planned tribute to slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk to longstanding claims that the NFL is a nonprofit organization , Snopes has run the full 100 yards of subjects when it comes to the NFL.
Here are 25 stories we've investigated about the league as well as its teams, players, and coaches:
By Joey Esposito
Joey Esposito has written for a variety of entertainment publications. He's into music, video games ... and birds.
Trump didn't order ICE to arrest 67K NFL fans who booed him
Nov. 13, 2025
Many fans booed Trump at an NFL game between the Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions on Nov. ...
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Did Travis Kelce sue Karoline Leavitt for $50M?
Oct. 13, 2025
The White House press secretary did not accuse the Kansas City Chiefs star of hypocrisy and "rep ...
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Claim that Andy Reid refused to attend 2026 Super Bowl over Charlie Kirk tribute raises red flags
Oct. 1, 2025
The Kansas City Chiefs coach allegedly said he would "not accept an event that tarnishes true pa ...
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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.
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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 ...
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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.
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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."
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NFL Restricted Beyoncé from Performing at Christmas Halftime Show?
Nov. 29, 2024
They allegedly said, “She’s not a good artist.”
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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 ...
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Kansas City Chiefs Refused to Host Pride Night?
Sept. 19, 2024
"We appreciate your courage to go against the flow," wrote one Facebook commenter.
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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."
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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!!!"
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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 ...
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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.
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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.
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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