MrBeast Viral NFL Ownership Claim Sparks Fan Confusion

YouTube star MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, sparked widespread buzz with a viral video in which he jokingly claimed to have bought the NFL, appearing alongside Commissioner Roger Goodell to announce "historic" changes such as adding YouTubers to team rosters. The stunt was a creative marketing campaign to promote YouTube's first-ever exclusive live broadcast of an NFL game—the September 5 matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs—available to watch for free on the platform. While the video generated excitement and confusion, the NFL remains owned by a conglomerate of franchises and over 537,000 stakeholders, making individual ownership impossible under league rules. The campaign highlighted a new era of sports entertainment that blends traditional sports, digital creator culture, and global accessibility, with creators like iShowSpeed, Dude Perfect, and Valkyrae featured as part of the promotion. MrBeast's playful approach and collaboration with the NFL underscore YouTube's growing role in live sports broadcasting and the evolving ways fans engage with the league. Ultimately, the video was a successful gimmick designed to capture attention and celebrate this culture-changing moment in sports media.