More than 100 NFL players are facing disciplinary action for allegedly reselling their Super Bowl LIX tickets at prices above face value, in violation of league rules, according to ESPN sources.
League Policy Violations and Penalties
Players from around half of the league’s 32 teams are expected to be fined and could be suspended. The NFL and the Players Association have agreed that violators will be fined the full face value of the tickets and will lose access to tickets for the next two Super Bowls. If the penalized players participate in those games, they’ll only be allowed to purchase seats.
Those who reject the fine risk suspension from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Sources said that many players have already accepted fines to avoid losing game time.
Ticket Resale Investigation Findings
An NFL memo obtained by ESPN stated that players and employees had sold tickets to a small number of “bundlers” working with ticket resellers. Prices on secondary markets for the February Super Bowl in New Orleans ranged from $2,588 to over $10,000, well above face value.
Stricter Penalties for Larger Roles
The memo noted that those who worked directly with the bundlers or played a larger role in the scheme will face harsher consequences. NFL chief compliance officer Sabrina Perel confirmed that both players and coaches were involved.
League Response and Future Safeguards
The league reminded all teams that its longstanding policy, which is part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, prohibits employees from reselling tickets for profit. To prevent future violations, the NFL plans to strengthen mandatory training ahead of Super Bowl LX, reinforcing that personal profit should never come at the fans’ expense.
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