NFL potentially sticks New York Jets with stunning $450 million bill

Even New York Jets' fans who never subscribed to the service could see their favorite team financially affected by the NFL's current legal battle over potentially violating antitrust laws through the sale of Sunday Ticket on DirecTV.

The Jets and each of the 31 other NFL franchises may wind up being on the hook for up to $450 million apiece.

As the newswire services reported on Thursday, a U.S. District Court jury ruled against the NFL in a class-action lawsuit that includes covered 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 American businesses.

When all said and done, the legal action could cost the NFL up to $14.39 billion and the league will subsequently ask the teams to foot the bill, according to the Associated Press.

"We are disappointed with the jury’s verdict today in the NFL Sunday Ticket class action lawsuit," said the NFL in a statement.

There is an appeals process in place, which will the case's final outcome. The NFL is expected to bring the case before the U.S. District Court 9th Circuit of Appeals and there is a chance it could eventually land in the Supreme Court.

"We will certainly contest this decision as we believe that the class action claims in this case are baseless and without merit," said the league.

Although a steep penalty for the Jets to potentially pay, team owner Woody Johnson has a portfolio that will survive such a blow.
He purchased the Jets in 2000 for a reported $635 million. Sportico valued the franchise at $6+ billion earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Johnson's initial wealth comes from the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical fortune. Known to be a loyal Republican in the political arena, he served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom under President Donald Trump's administration (2017-21).

Forbes reported that Johnson's "2017 federal financial disclosure said he had $1.7 billion in wealth outside the Jets."