Dave Portnoy’s Super Bowl Return

On Sunday, Dave Portnoy settled in at home, eagerly watching his cherished Patriots as they geared up for the 2026 Super Bowl in Santa Clara, California.

From his seat at Levi’s Stadium, he shared numerous photos and videos, along with a review of his well-known pizza. Naturally, being the devoted Patriots fan he is, Portnoy donned the team’s colors.

This Super Bowl marked a significant moment for Portnoy, especially after a turbulent history with the NFL. It all began back in 2015 when he and other Barstool employees staged a protest against the league over the “Deflategate” controversy in New York City.

The conflict escalated in 2019 when Portnoy was removed from the Rams-Patriots Super Bowl in Atlanta, literally dragged from his seat. That incident was quite a spectacle.

Recently, Portnoy faced charges of trespassing for allegedly fabricating media credentials for a Super Bowl event. However, things seemed to have mellowed between him and the NFL, as officials confirmed to various outlets that he could indeed purchase tickets for the game.

In an interview, Portnoy mentioned his excitement about attending the Super Bowl. “I’m definitely going as a fan and planning to enjoy it,” he stated. He recalled how similar plans had gone awry last time: “We got dragged out. We just want to signal the duck boats and have another parade.”

He had assumed that all the chatter surrounding him before the Super Bowl wouldn’t be a significant issue if he kept a low profile.

“Look, I promise if they attempt to drag me out again, I’ll go down without a fight. As long as I’m a paying customer, I’m not just walking out of the Super Bowl voluntarily. It’s going to be an interesting situation,” Portnoy remarked.

In the days leading up to the big event, he arrived in San Francisco on Monday night, ready for whatever the festivities might hold.