The year is 2026. Patrick Mahomes and a perfectly in-shape Travis Kelce are suiting up for another campaign with the Chiefs. Puka Nacua, fully healed after running through a glass window, will be hoping to play in the Rams’ season-opener next month sans any more controversy. Mike Vrabel and a Patriots team emerging from an offseason scandal eye a redemptive return to the Super Bowl. The through line across every narrative in NFL training camp so far? Be wary of what you see online.
That’s what the modern age of viral deepfakes, psyops and stealth marketing campaigns continues to teach everyone from the chronically plugged-in to the stubbornly A.I.-averse. So, when the NFL recently admitted that it’s trying to increase its exposure to women and girls through curated—and flirty—training camp content on social media, there’s naturally going to be a problem.
