More than 100 active NFLers—about half the teams’ worth—are playing with fire. They risk heavy fines and even potential lifetime ban for allegedly reselling their Super Bowl LIX tickets above face value. There is the strict enforcement of the NFL. These rules prohibit league or club staff, including players, from profiting on tickets received through their employer. This situation has drawn significant attention as the league prepares for the upcoming Super Bowl, scheduled for February in New Orleans.
The NFL’s policy, enshrined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, forbids its employees from selling tickets above face value. They can charge more than they initially paid, but not more than the face value of the tickets. Sabrina Perel, an NFL spokesperson, stated, “Our initial investigation has determined that a number of NFL players and coaches, employed by several NFL Clubs, sold Super Bowl tickets for more than the ticket’s face value in violation of the policy.”
As a result, ticket prices for the upcoming game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles have soared on secondary markets to an average of $900. In fact, some seats are priced at a jaw-dropping $3,500, others are reselling for over $10,000. As such, fans are questioning whether enforcement of league edicts is really possible when there’s a financial incentive to not comply baked into ticket sales.
As the investigation continues, many players have preemptively agreed to pay just the fines necessary to not miss any games. Yet, unlike everyone else, those who decide to appeal the penalties are subject to suspension from Commissioner Roger Goodell. The league has indicated that it will enhance mandatory training for all personnel before Super Bowl LX to ensure that everyone understands the rules regarding ticket sales.
Perel emphasized the league’s commitment to maintaining integrity, saying, “This long-standing League Policy…prohibits League or Club employees…from selling NFL game tickets acquired from their employer for more than the ticket’s face value.” Her story underscored a key tenet. Nobody is— or should be— allowed to make a personal profit from their NFL membership at the fans’ expense.
A league source has chosen not to identify the players or teams involved. The incident highlights a significant concern within the league regarding compliance with its policies, especially during high-stakes events like the Super Bowl.
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