[eropple]

The NFL is an industry association; it exists to further the health and welfare of its industry (American football). Furthermore, the NFL doesn't take in revenue at all; it runs at an operating loss. Instead, NFL Ventures (which is a for-profit corporation) collects all monies related to the league and passes that money along--less a (taxed) retained cushion--to the teams and the teams' ownership, which are likewise taxed as per normal for-profit entities.

So, yes, your claim is misleading and your defense of it worse.

[sandworm]

Almost. They exist to promote their part of the industry. They don't exist to support football generally and take many steps to put down possibly competitive leagues, such as using tricks to forbid players from moving to other leagues, even after their NFL careers are over. (Most commonly via delayed salary benefits that end should the player start with a non-approved league or if they speak out against the NFL.)

[jsprogrammer]

Who owns and licenses the IP and broadcasts?

[eropple]

I don't know the core of it, but I also don't think it matters a lot given that all NFL entities are pass-throughs.