The National Football League (NFL) is facing an antitrust lawsuit from two fans who claim the league is preventing teams from joining the social media platform Bluesky.
Patrick Brown, a Chicago Bears fan, and Collin Vincent, who supports the Seattle Seahawks, filed a 14-page complaint in New York, arguing that the league is restricting how teams and players interact with fans on Bluesky.
Thomas Burt, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, said, “Where the teams meet their fans on social media is between the teams and the fans,” Adding, “The NFL does not have the legal right to inject themselves into that decision.”
The lawsuit follows claims that the New England Patriots were ordered to delete their Bluesky account. Fred Kirsch, Vice President of Content for Kraft Sports & Entertainment, said on the Patriots Unfiltered podcast that the team was “not allowed to” have an account on the platform due to NFL rules.
Bluesky, which has gained traction as an alternative to X (formerly Twitter), has seen a rise in users after changes introduced by Elon Musk. The lawsuit suggests the NFL’s decision to keep teams off the platform is financially motivated, citing reports that the league wants a paid partnership with Bluesky before allowing teams to join.
The lawsuit also points to the NFL’s exclusive content deal with X, which includes a dedicated social media portal featuring highlights, stats, and posts in one place. The plaintiffs argue that this deal prevents teams from independently engaging with other platforms like Bluesky.
While there has been no public statement from the NFL about restricting Bluesky access, the lawsuit claims the league recently reinforced this policy internally. The NFL has not yet responded to requests for comment.
As Bluesky continues to attract sports organizations, the case raises questions about how major leagues navigate social media partnerships and fan engagement across different platforms.