NFL Policy: Barkley Sells Polymarket Stake

The NFL’s tightening of its rules on player financial interests has forced athletes to revisit their startup portfolios. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley recently sold his equity in the prediction market platform Polymarket to align with these stricter requirements.

Barkley explained to Front Office Sports that the league communicates specific investment restrictions to players before each season begins. The updated guidelines prohibit active participation in companies operating as gambling or prediction markets. Barkley summarized the situation with the phrase, “I was in it before, but no bueno.” The report detailing this divestiture was published on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the NFL Players Association stated earlier this year that the league treats prediction markets as gambling entities. Consequently, players cannot serve as endorsers or brand ambassadors for firms like Kalshi or Polymarket. This policy creates a distinct regulatory environment compared to other major American sports leagues. The NBA, Major League Baseball, the NHL, and MLS all currently maintain commercial partnerships with either Kalshi, Polymarket, or both platforms.

Barkley has a history of investing in technology and defense startups. A 2025 report by The Profile indicated he has invested upwards of $500,000 in companies including Anthropic, Anduril, Ramp, Cognition, Neuralink, Strike, and Polymarket. His decision to exit Polymarket reflects the broader application of the NFL’s gambling policy to player-held equity.

The league is also seeking judicial clarity on how to regulate these markets. The NFL asked the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this month to review whether sports-event contracts on prediction platforms fall under state gambling regulators. A league source told ESPN’s David Purdum that the primary goal is quick clarity from the court. The organization indicated it would accept a federal framework if it applied the same regulatory approach as state laws.