Nfl Football

Were NFL referees given authority to disqualify football players who kneeled during the U.S. national anthem? No, that's not true: The claim is from a satirical website whose articles Lead Stories has debunked before. Lead Stories found no actual news articles mentioning such change to the authority of NFL referees. The claim appeared in a post on Facebook (archived here)…

Did Tim Walz coach the ninth-grade football team instead of the high school team that won a state championship and was he fired from that coaching position after getting a DUI? No, that's not true: Walz was one of the coaches for the Mankato West High School team that won the Minnesota state championship in 1999. He was never fired…

Did WNBA basketball player Caitlin Clark reject a $400 million deal from Nike because of the company's association with NFL-quarterback-turned-civil-rights-activist Colin Kaepernick? No, that's not true: This claim first appeared in an article on a website with a satire disclaimer. There is no publicly available or credible evidence anything like this ever happened. The claim appeared in a post (archived…

Did the NFL tell Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles players they were not allowed to wear green in the Brazil opener, citing gang violence, as a post on Instagram Threads claimed? No, that's not true. This rumor originated in a podcast episode where Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs falsely stated that at "the part of Brazil" where…

Did Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce vow to quit the Kansas City Chiefs immediately if the football team doesn't fire kicker Harrison Butker? No, that's not true: This claim initially appeared in an article on a satirical website known for publishing fabricated content. While Kelce has released a statement specifically addressing an incident involving Butker, it does not…

Did Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid say, as of May 23, 2024, that he will resign if the Chiefs fire kicker Harrison Butker, adding "If they get rid of Harrison, they get rid of me"? No, that's not true: While it was reported in May 2024 that Reid said he supports Butker's right to his opinions, the quote…

Did Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker say "we should go back to a time ... when ... women had more babies than thoughts"? No, that's not true: This claim was made in a meme that derives from a satirical account. There is no evidence to suggest Butker stated what is attributed to him in the claim. The claim appeared…

Did the Kansas City Chiefs say they won't be re-signing Travis Kelce's contract and that they have "had it with the sideshow"? No, that's not true: This claim is from an article on a satirical website known for publishing fabricated content. This website has a disclaimer that reads, "Everything on this website is fiction." The claim appeared in an article…

Is a meme picture of Kansas City Chiefs football player Travis Kelce in a "Biden Harris 2024" hat actually real? No, that's not true: The picture of Kelce seen in an Instagram post has been edited. In the original photo, Kelce is wearing an energy drink hat, not one endorsing the incumbent president and vice president. The claim appeared on…

Was Colin Kaepernick "fired from his new job as a high school coach" after only six games because kids couldn't stand him? No, that's not true: The claim is derived from an article copied from a satirical website known for publishing fabricated content to embarrass conservatives who repost it as true. That website displays a disclaimer that reads, "Everything on…