Sports Fans Are Being Played: The Wild World of Viral Fake NFL News

Photo by Hartono Creative Studio on Unsplash
Attention Bay Area sports fans, we’ve got a digital drama that’s more twisted than your ex’s Instagram feed. A network of sketchy Facebook pages is spinning wild fake narratives about NFL players and political controversies, turning social media into a total misinformation playground.
These digital troublemakers have been creating elaborate fabrications targeting athletes like George Kittle, spreading completely fictional quotes and scenarios that sound just plausible enough to go viral. Take the recent example involving Kittle, where a fake post claimed he made a statement about political activist Charlie Kirk – which he absolutely did not.
The Fake News Factory
What’s particularly devious about these pages is their strategy. They create seemingly legit sports fan pages with names like “Red and Gold Legacy” and “Ravens Purple Wings”, complete with AI-generated graphics that look almost professional. Their goal? Pure digital chaos and ad revenue.
Following the Money Trail
The scam is surprisingly lucrative. Their WordPress site is pulling in over 300,000 visits monthly, with 95% of traffic coming directly from social media. By creating sensational, emotionally charged fake content, they’re generating thousands in ad revenue while spreading dangerous misinformation.
The Real Human Cost
Beyond the monetary angle, these fake posts have real consequences. Athletes like Kittle are forced to personally debunk these stories, and their families get caught in the crossfire of online harassment. It’s a stark reminder of how quickly misinformation can spread in our hyper-connected digital ecosystem.
The takeaway? Always, always fact-check before you share. Your social media clout isn’t worth spreading digital garbage.
AUTHOR: mb
SOURCE: SF Gate