Did Disney buy an NFL team? Explaining the fake viral post about a 33rd franchise

A report from the satirical website "Mousetrap News" has sparked a humorous conversation among football fans with a fabricated story claiming that Disney has purchased the NFL’s 33rd team. The fictional article details a new franchise, the "Mousketeers," and its partnership with the entertainment giant, but the report is not true.

With the rumored expansion and Disney partnership getting attention on social media, let’s dive in.

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Did Disney buy an NFL expansion team?

No, Disney did not buy an NFL expansion team.

The rumor originated on "Mousetrap News," a satirical website that publishes humorous, fabricated stories, often about Disney culture.

"The team will play their games at a new stadium to be built at Disney World," the report said. "The Mousketeers will join the NFC South, making it the only division to have five teams."

The article went on to claim that the NFL wanted to expand to a 33rd team, and Disney won the bid, buying the rights to the new team for $2 billion.

None of this is true.

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Is the NFL expanding?

Currently, the NFL has not announced any plans to expand from 32 teams. The league continues to expand its outreach, especially in international markets, but that does not mean they are expanding the league. This includes the fabricated Mousketeers and the Disney-NFL venture.

Has Disney ever owned a sports team?

Disney Sports Enterprises — now known as Anaheim Sports, Inc. — has owned two professional sports teams.

The company founded the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in 1993, naming the team after the popular movie franchise, and acquired a stake in the Angels in 1995, renaming them the Anaheim Angels.

Both teams were put up for sale in 1999, and were eventually sold in 2003 (Angels) and 2005 (Mighty Ducks).

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When was the last time the NFL expanded?

The NFL has not expanded in more than 20 years. The last time the league added a team was in 2002, when the Houston Texans joined as the 32nd franchise.

Before the Texans, the NFL welcomed the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995, bringing the total to 30 teams at that time.