NFL commissioner Roger Goodell declined to testify in the ongoing investigation into whether the league is violating an antitrust act in charging fans too much money to watch their games
11:06 ET, 11 Jun 2026
Roger Goodell became the NFL Commissioner in September 2006
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Roger Goodell became the NFL Commissioner in September 2006(Image: Getty)
The NFL is being accused of violating a 60-year-old antitrust exemption, with Congress now taking aim at the league in the ongoing investigation.
Earlier this year, the Department of Justice launched a probe into the NFL’s media rights deals, investigating whether its distribution model was forcing customers to overpay. Earlier this year, it emerged that NFL fans in the United States would need 10 different subscriptions to watch every game, costing over $1,000 per year.
Just a week ago, the NFL's commissioner, Roger Goodell, was called to testify by Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. He declined to do so.
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Now, Jordan has questioned the legitimacy of the NFL's current broadcasting rights.
He said: "We all love football, but we’re trying to ask the question: Does it work for our constituents because we know it works for the NFL."
Meanwhile, Rep. Jamie Raskin added: "It's fundamentally unfair that the league should get billion-dollar deals, but the fans are left out in the cold.”
The Justice Department has opened an antitrust investigation into the NFL's television deals
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The Justice Department has opened an antitrust investigation into the NFL's television deals(Image: Getty)
The NFL must comply with the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961. This grants the league the ability to hand out its media rights to multiple broadcast networks, but not to streaming services.
The founder of OutKick and former lawyer turned NFL sportswriter, Clay Travis, argued: "Every single day, sports fans are getting gouged now for the opportunity of watching their favorite teams.
"Fans now pay far more money every year for something that by law in 1961 you all guaranteed for them should be free.
"The NFL, quite clearly, is violating the plain intent of the law."
Donald Trump will sit in Josh Harris's owners' suite during Sunday's game between the Commanders and Lions.
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Donald Trump involved himself and had spoken on the NFL's subscriptions(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Trump has also gotten involved in the matter, saying the NFL could be making a big mistake.
Speaking on the league's subscription fees, Donald Trump told Sharyl Attkisson: "You've got people that love football. They don't make enough money to go and pay for this. And they [the NFL] could be killing the golden goose. Others have tried this, and all of a sudden you don't have a sport anymore.
"There's something very sad when they take football away from many, many people. Very sad. I don't like it.
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"They're making a lot of money. They could make a little bit less. They could let the people see.
"You have people that live for Sunday. They can't think about anything else,' before slamming costs. And then all of a sudden, they're gonna have to pay $1,000 a game. It's crazy. So, I'm not happy about it."