Is the NFL Rigged? All You Want to Know
Each year, Commissioner Roger Goodell and the rest of the NFL League Office somehow convince all 1,696 NFL players to fulfill the script of the upcoming season. Former players have confirmed long-held fan rumors that the NFL is fixed.
Arian Foster, a former NFL running back, confirmed on the Macrodosing podcast on January 31 that the NFL provided him and other players with a script for the upcoming season before they began competing in any games.
“That was the focus of practice because we were so committed to [the script]. It was about practicing the script,” Foster said.
Evidently, that is not the case. Since it would be impossible to persuade so many people who have devoted their lives to their sport to follow instructions, it is almost certain that the NFL is not rigged. But, that will never stop fan speculation that the rigging is real, so what are some of the most “blatant” times the NFL appeared rigged?
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Tuck Rule
A fumble occurs when an NFL quarterback is struck and the ball flies out. It is an incomplete pass unless the quarterback’s arm is making a throwing motion forward. The New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders’ 2001 AFC Divisional Round game, however, seemed to disregard this rule.
The ball was fumbled by Tom Brady, but the officials ruled that the pass was incomplete and declared the ball dead. The Patriots eventually defeated the opponent 16-13 thanks to a game-winning field goal, so the call was crucial. They not only triumphed in that match, but they also went on to win the Super Bowl, Brady’s and the team’s first victory in the competition since their dynastic period began.
Super Bowl XLIV
Following Hurricane Katrina, it took years for New Orleans to go through the recovery efforts for the damage and loss that it caused. The city’s NFL team, the Saints, won the Super Bowl despite the fact that they were still healing three years after the initial tear.
Due to the positive publicity, higher ratings, and overall upbeat atmosphere, the NFL wanted the Saints to triumph. Because of how pervasive the plot is, it has been suggested that even Peyton Manning, the opposing quarterback, may have been involved in fixing the game.
Super Bowl LIV
The NFL team that took the place of the Patriots is the Kansas City Chiefs, a modern-day dynasty. The new, storied quarterback to take Brady’s place is Patrick Mahomes. Both of those things are contingent upon the team winning its first Super Bowl.
At Super Bowl LIV, exactly that took place. The game’s officiating appeared to be biased as usual, and some decisions were, to put it mildly, dubious. One such call involved San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, who was wrongly called for pass interference.
Minneapolis Miracle
It is easy to argue that the Minneapolis Miracle was staged. How in the world does an NFL safety (in this case, the Saints’ Marcus Williams) absolutely blunder such a simple tackle? All Williams needed to do was wrap up Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs and the game would be over.
He did not do that, so the only explanation for that is that you think he was deliberately given money to lose the game.
Super Bowl XL
One of the NFL’s most infamously scrutinized games is the extra-large Super Bowl. Due to how infamous it is, Bleacher Report has referred to the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks as an urban legend.
Even Bill Leavy, the referee from that match, expressed regret to the Seahawks for the poor officiating and admitted that the missed calls keep him up at night.
Super Bowl LI
Is it not odd that the Super Bowl always hosts major rigged games? It all comes down to not thinking that a professional team, much less one good enough to make the Super Bowl, could be that bad in this NFL game.
With about a quarter and a half left to play, the Atlanta Falcons were up 28-3 against the Patriots. They had a 28-9 advantage going into the fourth quarter as well. To win the Super Bowl, they simply had to kneel the ball during each offensive play.
They did not do that. The Patriots came back and won the game in overtime, begging the question of how an NFL team is that bad.
Super Bowl XLVII
The Harbaugh Bowl is the last. Two brothers, one leading the 49ers and the other the Baltimore Ravens, served as head coaches in the inaugural Super Bowl. After Ravens returner Jacoby Jones returned the opening kickoff of the second half 109 yards for a touchdown, the game’s power mysteriously went out.
There was a 34-minute delay due to no power, which is thought to have been planned in an effort to slow down the Ravens’ momentum and give the 49ers a chance to rally. The Ravens managed to win the game despite the obvious intention to fix it.
