The NFL is a non-profit because it is operated as a expense for the teams. It costs money to have league offices, officials, marketing, etc. Any money for TV contracts or merchandise licenses is sent to the teams. Thus the NFL Incorporated makes no profit. This is the opposite of most franchisers like McDonald's where both the parent company and the franchisees make profits.
Imagine if the airlines formed a trade association to come up with standards for airports, runways and combined scheduling (and they might have such a trade association). The airlines would be the corporations which made the money, while the trade association wouldn't make a profit. If it did, it would be expected to reduce fees to the member airlines.
Ohhhhhhhh.
No wonder people like Obama get elected.
People brainwash themselves.