National Football League
American professional football league
- Entries
- 34
- On the record
- 20
- Stories
- 5
- Latest entry
- Nov 9, 2026
The record
- $1.74Bin 2,231 payable concussion settlement awards to former players as of November 9, 2026
- $4.7BSunday Ticket jury award of 2024; the Ninth Circuit reinstated liability in October 2026 and ordered a new damages trial
- $60Mfine on Commanders owner Dan Snyder in July 2023, about 1% of the team's $6.05 billion sale price
- $790Mpaid by the NFL and Stan Kroenke in 2021 to settle St. Louis's suit over the Rams' move
The NFL's biggest exposure as a defendant is the Sunday Ticket class action. In June 2024 a Los Angeles jury found the league's out-of-market TV deal with DirecTV anticompetitive and awarded subscribers about $4.7 billion; Judge Philip Gutierrez threw the verdict out that August. On October 30, 2026 the Ninth Circuit reversed him on liability, ordered the verdict reinstated and sent damages to a new trial. The concussion settlement, approved in 2015 without a cap, had paid 2,231 awards worth $1.74 billion by November 9, 2026, after a 2022 fix ended the use of race-based norms in dementia testing.
Other suits ended in payments or are still running. The league and Rams owner Stan Kroenke paid $790 million in 2021 to settle St. Louis's relocation suit, with no admission. Brian Flores's 2022 hiring-discrimination suit is headed for court after the Second Circuit refused to send it to the commissioner's arbitration and the Supreme Court declined review on May 26, 2026. Jon Gruden's leaked-emails suit won the same point in Nevada in 2025. The league fined Washington $10 million in 2021 and fined owner Dan Snyder $60 million in 2023 after a second investigation.
As a disciplinarian, the league suspended Saints coach Sean Payton for the 2012 season over bounties, docked Miami a first-round pick and suspended owner Stephen Ross in 2022 for tampering, and suspended Deshaun Watson 11 games with a $5 million fine the same year. The New England Patriots' Spygate and Deflategate penalties sit in their own file. In 2023 it suspended five players for gambling, and in July 2026 it suspended a Cardinals scouting director indefinitely for sharing draft information and betting; he says the findings are false and is appealing.
Questions people ask
What happened in the NFL Sunday Ticket lawsuit?
On October 30, 2026 a Ninth Circuit panel held that Judge Gutierrez abused his discretion by excluding the subscribers' two damages experts, reversed his judgment for the NFL, and ordered the jury's liability verdict reinstated. It agreed with him that the jury had calculated damages improperly, so the $4.7 billion award is not restored: a new trial on damages is ordered. source
How much has the NFL concussion settlement paid?
As of November 9, 2026, the court-supervised program reported 2,231 payable monetary awards totaling $1,740,656,225, and 20,564 registered settlement class members. source
What was race-norming in the NFL concussion settlement, and how was it ended?
Dementia testing in the program used norms that assumed Black players started with lower cognitive scores, which made it harder for them to qualify for awards. On March 4, 2022 Senior U.S. District Judge Anita Brody approved a negotiated fix that lets Black retirees who were denied seek retesting or have their tests rescored, a change projected to add $100 million or more to the league's costs. source
Why was Dan Snyder fined $60 million?
Investigator Mary Jo White sustained a former employee's allegation that Snyder sexually harassed her, which he denies, and found the club had shielded about $11 million in revenue from league sharing. The report also faulted his limited cooperation. Owners fined him $60 million on July 20, 2023, the day they approved the team's $6.05 billion sale to Josh Harris. source
Where does Brian Flores's lawsuit against the NFL stand?
On May 26, 2026 the Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal of the NFL, the Giants, the Broncos and the Texans, leaving in place rulings that Flores's discrimination claims against them go to federal court rather than to arbitration overseen by Roger Goodell. The league has denied the discrimination claims. No trial date is on record. source
How did the Rams' St. Louis relocation lawsuit end?
The NFL and Rams owner Stan Kroenke agreed on November 24, 2021 to pay $790 million to St. Louis city, St. Louis County and the regional sports authority, avoiding a trial set for January 2022. The suit had sought more than $1 billion and claimed the league broke its own relocation guidelines; no admission was reported. source
Which NFL players were suspended for gambling?
On April 21, 2023 the league suspended Quintez Cephus, C.J. Moore and Shaka Toney indefinitely, through at least the 2023 season, for betting on NFL games, and Stanley Berryhill and Jameson Williams for six games. Calvin Ridley had been suspended for the whole 2022 season for betting on NFL games. source
Why was Deshaun Watson suspended 11 games?
Under an August 18, 2022 settlement with the players' union, Watson was suspended 11 games and fined $5 million for violating the personal conduct policy, replacing disciplinary officer Sue Robinson's six-game ruling, which the league had appealed. The NFL and the Browns each added $1 million to create a $7 million fund for preventing sexual misconduct and assault. source
Roles and honours on the record
- 1920-1922 Founded as the American Professional Football Conference in Canton, Ohio; renamed the American Professional Football Association in 1920 and the National Football League on June 24, 1922 source
- 2010 Respondent, American Needle, Inc. v. National Football League, U.S. Supreme Court No. 08-661 source
- 2015- Defendant, In re National Football League's Sunday Ticket Antitrust Litigation, C.D. Cal. No. 2:15-ml-02668; Ninth Circuit Nos. 24-5493 and 24-5691 source
- 2015- Settling defendant in the former players' concussion class action overseen by Judge Anita Brody in Philadelphia source
- 2022- Defendant, Flores v. National Football League, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York source
Every entry, newest first
- Reported
Pro Football Network says the NFL's Week 8 discipline report classified the Brisker contact as a blow to the head/neck area. NFL fines Jaquan Brisker $17,911 for hit on Deshaun Watson
- Reported
Yahoo Sports reports the NFL fined Ravens LB Roquan Smith $17,911 for unnecessary roughness (facemask) on Josh Allen. NFL fines Roquan Smith $17,911 for facemask on Josh Allen
- Reported
Per Fox Sports, the league sent Aiyuk and the NFLPA a letter saying he owes the 49ers the bonus money. NFL reportedly tells Brandon Aiyuk he owes 49ers $13M back
- Reported
Fined Dolphins owner Stephen Ross $1.5M and took two draft picks over tampering; memo found no order to lose games, per Fox News. Brian Flores v. NFL: Ross fined $1.5M over Dolphins tampering
- Reported
Announced every team must hire a minority or female offensive assistant, and added women to the Rooney Rule, per ESPN. Brian Flores v. NFL: Ross fined $1.5M over Dolphins tampering
- Reported
Called Flores's claims "without merit" in a statement, per ESPN. Brian Flores v. NFL: Ross fined $1.5M over Dolphins tampering
- Reported
NorthJersey.com reported the NFL fined Ryan $75,000 for profanity to a fan; Ryan said he would not appeal. Coach fines on record: Jets $50K, NFL $75K, then Rex Ryan
- Reported
Fined Lions president Matt Millen $200,000 for not interviewing minority candidates, the first fine under its diversity program, per AP. Brian Flores v. NFL: Ross fined $1.5M over Dolphins tampering
Stories in this file
Sports ยท ๐ธ Coach fines on record: Jets $50K, NFL $75K, then Rex Ryan
The Jets and the NFL fined Rex Ryan before; the Nashville charges are warrants, with no plea or response on record in the reports read. โณ
Money ยท โ๏ธ Brian Flores v. NFL: Ross fined $1.5M over Dolphins tampering
The NFL called Flores's suit meritless. A judge sent some claims to arbitration and kept others in court; the end result is unknown. โณ
Sports ยท ๐ NFL fines Jaquan Brisker $17,911 for hit on Deshaun Watson
Brisker called the flag wrong and said he didn't expect a fine. The NFL's report lists a blow to the head or neck area. ๐ฃ๏ธ
Sports ยท ๐ NFL fines Roquan Smith $17,911 for facemask on Josh Allen
Ravens linebacker also fined $17,911 for a hit on DJ Moore: $35,822 in all. No Smith response in the reports read. โณ
Sports ยท ๐ NFL reportedly tells Brandon Aiyuk he owes 49ers $13M back
A source tells Fox the NFL sent a letter Thursday. Pelissero says it could end in a deal or arbitration. Nothing is public. โณ
The record, entry by entry
Sunday Ticket antitrust case
- 2024-06-27 Ruled A jury in the Sunday Ticket antitrust case found against the NFL and awarded $4,610,331,671.74 to the residential class and $96,928,272.90 to the commercial class, about $4.7 billion in all, which could have been trebled to $14,121,779,833.92. Associated Press report via ESPN
- 2024-08-01 Ruled U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez overturned the Sunday Ticket verdict and granted judgment to the NFL, finding that two plaintiff experts' testimony should have been excluded and that without it no reasonable jury could have found class-wide injury or damages. Associated Press report via ESPN
- 2026-10-30 Ruled A Ninth Circuit panel of Judges Thomas, Johnstone and Lefkow held that Gutierrez abused his discretion by excluding the subscribers' experts, reversed the judgment for the NFL and ordered the jury's liability verdict reinstated. It upheld his finding that the jury miscalculated damages, so the $4.7 billion award stays vacated pending a new damages trial. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, opinion, Nos. 24-5493 and 24-5691
- 2026-10-31 Official The NFL said after the ruling that it continues to believe its media model is the most fan-friendly in sports and entertainment. The case covers the DirecTV years of 2011 to 2022; Sunday Ticket moved to YouTube in 2023 under a seven-year deal, and lawyers on both sides said they were weighing their options. Associated Press report via ESPN
Concussion settlement
- 2015-04-22 Ruled U.S. District Judge Anita Brody granted final approval to the settlement of former players' concussion claims. She had rejected an earlier version capped at $765 million; the approved settlement pays awards on a grid by age, diagnosis and seasons played, with no overall cap. Sports Illustrated report
- 2016-04-18 Ruled The Third Circuit affirmed approval of the concussion settlement over objectors' appeals, calling it not perfect, but fair. Sports Illustrated report
- 2022-03-04 Ruled Judge Brody approved changes ending race-based norms in the settlement's dementia testing, which had assumed Black players started with lower cognitive scores. Black retirees denied awards can seek retesting or rescoring; the change was projected to add $100 million or more to the league's costs. The fund had paid more than $800 million by then. Associated Press report via Sports Illustrated
- 2026-11-09 Official The NFL concussion settlement program reported 2,231 payable monetary awards totaling $1,740,656,225 and 20,564 registered settlement class members as of this date. NFL Concussion Settlement program website, reported totals
Commanders and Dan Snyder
- 2021-07-01 Ruled After attorney Beth Wilkinson's review found a highly unprofessional workplace with bullying, intimidation and multiple sexual harassment allegations, the league fined the Washington Football Team $10 million. Tanya Snyder took over day-to-day operations, the club agreed to 10 recommendations and semi-annual reports through July 31, 2023. NFL.com report
- 2022-12-08 Official The House Oversight and Reform Committee released its report on the Commanders, finding that Snyder impeded its inquiry and gave misleading testimony about interfering with the Wilkinson review, and that the league misled the public about that review. Snyder's lawyers said the committee pursued one side of the story; the league said it was reviewing the report. CNBC report
- 2023-07-20 Ruled Minutes after approving the team's $6.05 billion sale to Josh Harris, owners fined Dan Snyder $60 million. Mary Jo White's investigation sustained a former employee's sexual harassment allegation, which Snyder denies, and found about $11 million in revenue shielded from league sharing. ESPN report
Discrimination and coach lawsuits
- 2022-02 Filed Former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores sued the NFL and several teams alleging racial discrimination in hiring. Broncos executive John Elway called the allegations about his interview false and defamatory, and the Giants and Dolphins owner Stephen Ross also denied them. ESPN report
- 2023-03-01 Ruled U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni granted the defendants' motion to compel arbitration except for Flores's claims against the Broncos, Giants and Texans and his related claims against the NFL, which may proceed in court; claims of co-plaintiffs Steve Wilks and Ray Horton were sent to arbitration. U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y., opinion and order (Courthouse News copy)
- 2025-08-11 Ruled The Nevada Supreme Court ruled 5-2 that Jon Gruden cannot be forced into arbitration before the commissioner, finding the NFL Constitution's arbitration clause unconscionable as applied to him and reversing a 2024 panel decision. Gruden's suit claims the league and Goodell leaked his private emails; the league said it would seek further review. Duane Morris sports law blog summary of the ruling
- 2025-08-14 Ruled The Second Circuit upheld Judge Caproni's ruling that Flores can pursue his claims against the NFL, the Broncos, the Giants and the Texans in court, holding that the league's process of arbitration before the commissioner is not protected by the Federal Arbitration Act. The league said it disagreed and would seek further review. ESPN report
- 2026-05-26 Ruled The U.S. Supreme Court denied the petition of the Giants and other defendants in New York Football Giants v. Flores, No. 25-790, leaving the Second Circuit ruling in place. Justice Kavanaugh noted he would have granted review. U.S. Supreme Court docket, No. 25-790
Antitrust and relocation cases
- 2010-05-24 Ruled In American Needle v. NFL, the U.S. Supreme Court held in an opinion by Justice Stevens that NFL Properties' decisions on the teams' separately owned trademarks are concerted action under Section 1 of the Sherman Act, to be judged under the rule of reason, and remanded. U.S. Supreme Court, opinion, No. 08-661 (LII copy)
- 2021-11-24 Official The NFL and Rams owner Stan Kroenke agreed to pay $790 million to St. Louis city, St. Louis County and the regional convention and sports authority to settle their suit over the team's 2016 move to Los Angeles, which claimed the league ignored its own relocation guidelines. The deal avoided a January 2022 trial; no admission was reported. Associated Press report via Fox Baltimore
League discipline
- 2012-03-21 Ruled Over the Saints' bounty program, the league suspended coach Sean Payton without pay for the 2012 season, former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams indefinitely, general manager Mickey Loomis for eight games and assistant Joe Vitt for six, fined the club $500,000 and took its second-round picks in the next two drafts. UPI report
- 2016-04-25 Ruled The Second Circuit ruled 2-1 that Commissioner Roger Goodell properly used his discretion under the collective bargaining agreement in suspending Tom Brady for four games, reversing District Judge Richard Berman's ruling against the league. Chief Judge Robert Katzmann dissented. The full Deflategate record is in the New England Patriots file. ESPN report
- 2022-08-02 Ruled The league found the Dolphins violated its anti-tampering policy three times over Tom Brady and Sean Payton, took the club's 2023 first-round and 2024 third-round picks, fined owner Stephen Ross $1.5 million and suspended him through October 17, and fined vice chair Bruce Beal $500,000. It found no evidence the team lost games on purpose, as Flores had alleged. CNBC report
- 2022-08-18 Ruled Under a settlement with the players' union, Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was suspended 11 games and fined $5 million for violating the personal conduct policy, replacing the six-game ruling the league had appealed. The league and the Browns each added $1 million to a $7 million fund for preventing sexual misconduct and assault. NFL.com report
- 2023-04-21 Ruled The league suspended Quintez Cephus, C.J. Moore and Shaka Toney indefinitely, through at least the 2023 season, for betting on NFL games in 2022, and Stanley Berryhill and Jameson Williams for the first six games of the season. Calvin Ridley had already been suspended for the 2022 season for betting on NFL games. NBC News report
- 2026-07-17 Ruled The league suspended Cardinals director of college scouting Ryan Gold indefinitely, finding he shared non-public information about the team's 2026 draft picks before they were announced and placed parlay bets on NFL and college games. It said there was no reason to believe any game's integrity was affected and no sign other Cardinals staff were involved. ESPN report
- 2026-07-19 Reported Gold's lawyer called the league's accusations blatantly false and said Gold had demanded an appeal of the suspension. ESPN report
Founding
- 1920-09-17 Official At a meeting in Canton, Ohio, the four-week-old American Professional Football Conference was renamed the American Professional Football Association, with Jim Thorpe elected president. It changed its name to the National Football League on June 24, 1922. Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1920 history page
Documents
- Opinion, Ninth Inning Inc. v. National Football League, Ninth Circuit Nos. 24-5493, 24-5691 (Oct. 30, 2026)
- Opinion, American Needle, Inc. v. NFL, No. 08-661 (May 24, 2010)
- Opinion and order on arbitration, Flores v. NFL, S.D.N.Y. (Mar. 1, 2023)
- U.S. Supreme Court docket, New York Football Giants v. Flores, No. 25-790 (petition denied May 26, 2026)
- NFL Concussion Settlement program, award statistics
- NFL.com on the $10 million Washington Football Team fine (July 1, 2021)
- NFL.com on the Deshaun Watson suspension settlement (Aug. 18, 2022)
- ESPN on the $60 million Dan Snyder fine and the Mary Jo White report (July 20, 2023)
- CNBC on the House Oversight Committee's Commanders report (Dec. 8, 2022)
- AP on the $790 million Rams relocation settlement (Nov. 24, 2021)
- AP on the end of race-norming in the concussion settlement (Mar. 4, 2022)
- Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1920 founding history