What is Nfl Scripted Super Bowl Script?

A conspiracy theory and meme claiming the NFL rigs games and the Super Bowl like a pro-wrestling storyline, popularized ahead of Super Bowl LVII in early 2023[1].

Where did Nfl Scripted Super Bowl Script come from?

It took off after Arian Foster deadpanned about receiving scripts on the Macrodosing podcast on January 31, 2023, followed by @FearKyrie's fake leaked-script tweet on February 4[2].

What does Nfl Scripted Super Bowl Script mean?

People use "the script" as a punchline for improbable plays, missed calls, or dramatic storylines, framing them as if the league had written them in advance[10].

How do you use Nfl Scripted Super Bowl Script?

Post a screenshot or clip of a strange play, referee call, or storyline and caption it as if it were "in the script" or the work of NFL "script writers," often mimicking @FearKyrie's fake boxscore format[1].

Is Nfl Scripted Super Bowl Script still popular?

Yes. The joke resurfaced in late 2025 and early 2026 around Super Bowl LX after fans read an NFL graphic featuring Sam Darnold and Drake Maye as another "script leak"[8].

Was there really a leaked Super Bowl LVII script?

No. The image @FearKyrie posted was fake, and Snopes debunked it as an extension of Arian Foster's podcast joke[1].

Did the fake script affect betting?

Yes. DraftKings said 37-34 Eagles became the most popular correct-score bet, and BetMGM saw it turn into the most-bet market on the game overall at +8000[3].

Which NFL players reacted to Arian Foster's bit?

Alvin Kamara, Marlon Humphrey, Matt Judon, and Stefon Diggs all leaned into the joke publicly within a week[2].

What was Arian Foster's role in the meme?

The former Houston Texans running back sarcastically confirmed a rigged NFL on Macrodosing on January 31, 2023, kicking off the viral wave when the clip hit Twitter[2].

Who is Tom Grossi and how is he connected?

Tom Grossi is a YouTuber who built the "If The NFL Was Scripted" parody series in which he plays the scriptwriter and every team, and NPR interviewed him about it during the January 2025 playoffs[9].

Nfl Scripted Super Bowl Script

2023catchphraseresurgent

The NFL Scripted or Super Bowl Script is a conspiracy theory and meme claiming NFL games and the Super Bowl are pre-determined like a pro-wrestling storyline. It exploded online in early 2023 after Arian Foster deadpanned about receiving scripts on the Macrodosing podcast and a fake leaked-script tweet for Super Bowl LVII went viral.

conspiracy memes nfl memes super bowl memes hoax memes 2023 memes

Overview

The NFL Scripted or Super Bowl Script is a conspiracy theory and running joke claiming that the NFL rigs the outcomes of games, including the Super Bowl, like a pro-wrestling storyline1. The bit exploded online in the weeks before Super Bowl LVII in February 2023, blending sincere conspiracy posting with obvious satire from fans and players who leaned into the gag2.

Most versions of the meme point to specific referee calls, unlikely comebacks, or made-for-TV storylines as "proof" that the season follows a hidden script10. Memers post screenshots of fake leaked scripts, react to strange plays with "just following the script," and cast NFL executives, referees, and commissioner Roger Goodell as the writers plotting each week's twist5.

How It Spread

Four days later, on February 4, 2023, then-active Twitter user @FearKyrie posted a mocked-up screenshot styled like a Pro Football Reference boxscore showing the Philadelphia Eagles beating the Kansas City Chiefs 37-34 in Super Bowl LVII, captioned "Nahh someone leaked the SuperBowl script"1. The post was viewed more than 12 million times before the account was suspended3. Snopes and other outlets ran fact-checks explaining that the tweet was riffing on Foster's podcast bit rather than sharing a real document1.

The joke moved fast into sportsbook activity. DraftKings told Action Network that 37-34 Eagles became the most popular correct-score bet, making up 21% of tickets and 26% of the money in that market3. At BetMGM the same prop turned into the single most-bet market on the game overall at +8000, with roughly five times the volume of any other correct-score line3. Players jumped in too. On February 5, 2023, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs tweeted a clip of a recent play captioned "I was just following the script"4. Fox News rounded up similar bits from Alvin Kamara, Marlon Humphrey, and Matt Judon leaning into Foster's rigged-league gag2.

TikTok picked up the format on February 6, 2023, when @sportsseriously posted a video of an interviewer asking Kansas City Chiefs players about the alleged script, pulling more than 250,000 views in a day4. Broader coverage from AS.com framed the wave as an internet reaction to disputed AFC Championship officiating in the Chiefs' win over the Cincinnati Bengals5.

How to Use This Meme

The template is loose. Common riffs frame odd referee calls, injury timing, or dramatic fourth-quarter comebacks as beats from a leaked script10. Posts often begin "the NFL script writers when..." or end "just following the script," casting the NFL, ESPN, or Roger Goodell as show-runners9. Some posters build fake weekly rundowns or edit boxscores to look like leaked outcomes, following the visual template set by @FearKyrie's Pro Football Reference mockup1.

Cultural Impact

YouTuber Tom Grossi built an "If The NFL Was Scripted" series in which he plays the fictional scriptwriter, a referee, and every team, and NPR interviewed him about the show ahead of the January 2025 playoffs9. Ahead of Super Bowl LX in early 2026, a September 2025 NFL promotional graphic featuring Patriots quarterback Sam Darnold and Seahawks quarterback Drake Maye near the front resurfaced online after both teams reached the Super Bowl, prompting NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy to publicly deny that the game was scripted8. Explainer pieces from AS.com laid out the origin of the joke around the AFC Championship5, while Sportsboom worked through the standard counter-arguments about salary caps, draft rules, and profit incentives10.

Fun Facts

- Before X suspended it, @FearKyrie's fake Super Bowl LVII script tweet was viewed over 12 million times1.

- The 37-34 Eagles correct-score line at BetMGM was steamed from an opening +25000 down to +8000 as the joke went viral3.

- Only two Super Bowls, XXIX and LII, have ever cleared a 71-point total, the score in the fake leak3.

- Bleacher Report floated the "scripted NFL" idea as a listicle all the way back in November 2011, long before the modern meme wave7.

- Alvin Kamara, Marlon Humphrey, and Matt Judon all publicly played along with Arian Foster's bit within days of the podcast episode2.

Derivatives & Variations

"If The NFL Was Scripted," Tom Grossi's ongoing YouTube parody series where he narrates weekly storylines as a fictional NFL scriptwriter[9].

Fake leaked-script boxscore images styled after Pro Football Reference, popularized by @FearKyrie's Super Bowl LVII mockup[1].

Player "just following the script" reaction posts sparked by Stefon Diggs' February 2023 tweet[2].

Frequently Asked Questions

References (10)