The NFL overwhelmingly voted in favor of allowing private equity firms to buy stakes in franchises. Art Rooney II and the Pittsburgh Steelers also voted “yes” to the rule. In fact, it passed by a 31-1 vote, with only the Cincinnati Bengals dissenting.
As outlined by PFT’s Mike Florio, the Bengals dislike the direction the NFL is heading.
“As one source with knowledge of the dynamics remarked, the Bengals consistently oppose anything that contributes to modernizing the league’s financial infrastructure.”
But that meant Pittsburgh said yes. While the vote received little coverage, tucked away during a busy week of roster cutdowns and Brandon Aiyuk news, it’s a big shift for the NFL.