Goodell Skips Congress
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell declines to testify before Congress regarding broadcast deals
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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will not appear before Congress to answer questions about the league's TV and streaming deals. In a letter sent June 3, NFL General Counsel Ted Ullyot told the House Judiciary Committee that Goodell would skip the June 10 hearing, citing "ongoing litigation" as the reason, according to MyNorthwest.
The refusal comes as pressure on the NFL mounts from multiple directions. The Justice Department opened a formal inquiry into the league's broadcast deals in April 2026. Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is questioning whether those deals still comply with a 1961 law that gives the NFL special legal protections in exchange for keeping games free to watch.
A 1961 Law at the Heart of the Fight
The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 gives the NFL a narrow legal shield. Normally, the 32 teams competing to sell their TV rights would violate antitrust law. The act lets them act as one and sell rights together. But that exemption was written only for free, over-the-air broadcasts — not cable, satellite, or streaming, according to WDRB.
Critics argue the NFL has broken the unwritten deal behind that law. By moving games to Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Peacock — all paid services — the league is collecting the legal benefit without honoring its end of the bargain. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, says the media landscape has "changed dramatically since 1961" and wants answers.
Goodell Stays Silent While DOJ Investigates
Jordan formally invited Goodell to testify on June 1. Nine days later, the NFL's answer arrived: no. Ullyot's letter argued the ongoing litigation makes testimony inappropriate. The NFL also pushed back on the core criticism, stating that 87% of games will air on free over-the-air TV this season and that every game is free in the home markets of the teams playing, according to The Hour.
The DOJ opened its inquiry on April 10, 2026, focusing on "affordability for consumers and creating an even playing field for providers." Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) had urged the DOJ and FTC to act just weeks earlier, in March 2026. The NFL's total media deals — spanning Amazon, CBS, ESPN, Fox, and NBC — are worth roughly $110 billion over 11 years.
The Real Price Fans Pay to Watch Every Game
The numbers tell a stark story. One estimate put the cost of watching every NFL game last season at $765 in streaming subscriptions. Another analysis pegged the minimum cost to access all 272 games in 2026 at around $600. Bars and restaurants face their own challenges. The Wisconsin Restaurant Association warned Congress that streaming requires venues to pay for multiple accounts and upgrade their internet connections.
The NFL defends the shift by pointing to reach. Ullyot argued that streaming platforms offer "significantly more reach than the current pay TV ecosystem." Goodell himself has said the league has been "surviving and thriving on the basis of being available to the broadest audience," according to NH Register. But lawmakers say that argument rings hollow for elderly fans or low-income households that don't subscribe to multiple services.
$14 Billion Verdict Looms as Courts Weigh In
Congress is not the only arena where the NFL faces heat. The "Sunday Ticket" antitrust case could deliver a massive financial blow. A jury originally awarded $4.7 billion against the league — tripled to $14.1 billion under antitrust law. A judge threw out that verdict in August 2024. But the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard new arguments in March 2026, with judges expressing skepticism about the dismissal, according to WUSA9.
If the Ninth Circuit reinstates the verdict, the NFL could face a $14.1 billion liability that would ripple through its salary cap and financial planning. Some analysts say that is exactly why the league refuses to settle — doing so could signal that its current broadcast model is legally fragile. For now, Goodell will stay out of the Capitol, and fans will keep paying to watch.
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