Trump DOJ Launches Antitrust Probe Into NFL Over Streaming Deals

The investigation is seen as Trump's attempt to get back at the league that rejected his past attempts to purchase a team.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 10:43pm

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A dynamic, abstract painting of an American football player in motion, their jersey and limbs repeated in overlapping, geometric waves of red, white, and blue colors, capturing the high-energy and political tensions surrounding the NFL.A fractured, high-energy painting depicts the political tensions surrounding the NFL as the DOJ investigates the league's media rights deals.Portland Today

The U.S. Department of Justice under former President Donald Trump has launched an antitrust investigation into the NFL, alleging that the league's TV rights deals have harmed consumers by limiting access to games on streaming platforms. The probe is viewed by analysts as Trump's effort to retaliate against the NFL for rejecting his past bids to purchase a team, including the Baltimore Colts and Buffalo Bills.

Why it matters

The DOJ's investigation into the NFL's media rights agreements raises concerns about the politicization of antitrust enforcement, with critics arguing the probe is driven more by Trump's personal vendetta against the league than legitimate antitrust issues. The case also highlights the broader debate around consumer access to live sports programming as leagues strike exclusive streaming deals.

The details

According to the Wall Street Journal report, the DOJ investigation revolves around the Sports Broadcasting Act, which gives professional sports leagues the right to collectively negotiate TV packages. The DOJ alleges these deals have made it more difficult for consumers to watch their favorite teams, as leagues offer smaller packages of games to streaming services. However, media companies, regulators and members of Congress have raised similar concerns in recent months about the impact of sports rights deals on consumer access.

  • Trump unsuccessfully attempted to purchase NFL teams, including the Baltimore Colts and Buffalo Bills, between the 1980s and 2010s.
  • In 2014, banks refused to lend Trump money in his quest to purchase the Buffalo Bills.
  • The DOJ's antitrust investigation into the NFL was launched in 2026, during Trump's presidency.

The players

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who launched the DOJ's antitrust investigation into the NFL, allegedly in retaliation for the league rejecting his past attempts to purchase a team.

Jim Irsay

The late owner of the Baltimore Colts, who rejected Trump's bid to purchase the team before the franchise relocated to Indianapolis.

NFL

The National Football League, which is the target of the DOJ's antitrust investigation over its media rights agreements.

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What they’re saying

“Crazy how the Trump admin suddenly cares about antitrust violations when it's related to the special club that rejected him a few decades ago.”

— Mike Tremblay, Transit planner in Portland, Maine

“This is incredible, they're going after America's most popular sport? Even if they have a point (they probably do), absolute scenes to do this from a popularity perspective.”

— George Pearkes, Macro strategist

“Gotta wonder how much of this is Trump trying to get back at the NFL because the NFL a) never allowed Trump to buy a team; b) had Green Day and Bad Bunny perform at the Super Bowl.”

— Josh Stern, Executive editor at Morning Brew

What’s next

The DOJ's antitrust investigation into the NFL's media rights deals is ongoing, and it remains to be seen whether the probe will lead to any significant changes or enforcement actions against the league.

The takeaway

The DOJ's investigation into the NFL's TV rights agreements has raised concerns about the politicization of antitrust enforcement, with critics arguing the probe is driven more by Trump's personal vendetta against the league than legitimate competition issues. The case highlights the broader debate around consumer access to live sports programming as leagues strike exclusive streaming deals.