“This is a directed tax cut that [went] to the league office, which means every other American pays a little bit more every year because we give the NFL league office a tax break and call them a non-profit,” Mr. Coburn said on CNN’s “New Day.” “In fact, they’re not.”

Mr. King said on the program the bill only taxes the money that goes to the league office.

“The teams are separate entities — they pay taxes and they have their whole situation,” he said. “The league has a foundation, charitable — wouldn’t affect that. This is talking about the [approximately $180 million] a year that goes into the league office.”