For nearly a decade, one of the NFL’s most public feuds has quietly simmered in the background, occasionally flaring up whenever Super Bowl week rolled around.
Now, just as the New England Patriots find themselves back on the sport’s grandest stage, that standoff is finally easing.
Dave Portnoy, the outspoken founder of Barstool Sports, is no longer barred from attending the Super Bowl — though the terms of his return come with a notable caveat.
The Ban Is Lifted, but Not Without Strings Attached
After nine years of being frozen out, Portnoy is officially allowed back at the Super Bowl.
The NFL confirmed that the long-running ban preventing him from attending league events has been lifted.
However, there’s an important condition attached: he can only be there as a regular fan.
That means no media credentials, no official Barstool Sports access, and no behind-the-scenes presence.
If Portnoy wants to be inside Levi’s Stadium on February 8, he’ll have to do it the same way most fans do — by purchasing a ticket and watching from the stands.
A Return as a Fan, Not a Media Mogul
For years, the ban extended beyond Portnoy himself, blocking Barstool Sports employees from receiving Super Bowl credentials and keeping the brand off Radio Row.
That restriction appears to remain in place, as the league has not clarified whether Barstool staff will regain access to NFL media events going forward.
As things stand, Portnoy’s return is personal, not professional.
According to reports, he’ll be attending purely as a Patriots fan, not as the face of one of sports media’s most polarizing outlets.
Why This Timing Matters So Much to Portnoy
The timing couldn’t be more meaningful.
The Patriots are heading to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2019, and for a lifelong New England loyalist like Portnoy, missing the game entirely would have been unthinkable.
Even before the NFL formally lifted the ban, Portnoy made it clear he planned to attend no matter what — and he wasn’t shy about how far he was willing to go.
The “Dead Fish” Moment That Nearly Happened
Earlier in the day, Portnoy openly joked that he would attend the Super Bowl regardless of the consequences, even referencing his previous removal from the event.
He insisted he wasn’t looking for trouble, saying he simply wanted to enjoy the game and start thinking about championship parades.
Still, he warned that if security tried to remove him again, he’d refuse to go quietly, promising a dramatic “dead fish” protest that he believed would go viral.
In the end, it never came to that. The ban was lifted just in time, sparing both sides another headline-grabbing confrontation.
How Deflategate Sparked a Nine-Year Feud
The roots of the dispute stretch back to 2015 and the height of the Deflategate controversy involving Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
In protest of how Commissioner Roger Goodell handled the investigation, Portnoy and several Barstool employees staged a sit-in at the NFL’s New York headquarters.
They handcuffed themselves to the lobby floor, refused to leave, and were eventually arrested.
The NFL responded forcefully, cutting ties with the brand and citing the protest as grounds for denying credentials to anyone associated with Barstool Sports.
That decision echoed for years, effectively locking Barstool out of Super Bowl media coverage and other league events.
A Painful Memory From Super Bowl LI
The feud hit its peak in 2017, when Portnoy was escorted out of the Super Bowl — the very night the Patriots completed their legendary comeback against the Atlanta Falcons after trailing 28-3.
Watching Tom Brady lift the Lombardi Trophy from outside the stadium became a symbol of just how bitter the standoff had become.
Patriots Back on Top as the Drama Fades
While the Portnoy-NFL saga adds an entertaining subplot, the real headline remains the Patriots’ stunning return to dominance.
Under head coach Mike Vrabel, New England has flipped preseason skepticism on its head and stormed through the AFC.
On Sunday, the Patriots punched their Super Bowl ticket with a tense 10–7 win over the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium, surviving brutal conditions and a defensive slugfest.
Drake Maye Delivers When It Counts
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye didn’t light up the stat sheet, but he did enough to guide the offense and protect the football in freezing weather.
His poise under pressure helped New England grind out the win and keep their championship hopes alive.
A New Chapter Awaits in Super Bowl LX
Now, the Patriots head to Santa Clara to face Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX on February 8.
For Portnoy, simply being allowed inside the stadium — even without credentials — marks the quiet end of one of the most public media battles of the modern NFL era.
What happens next remains to be seen, but for one night at least, the focus shifts back to football, not feuds.
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn