The United States Supreme Court unamimously reversed a ruling by the U.S. Appeals Court in Chicago that the NFL is one entity, ruling that the NFL can be considered 32 separate teams when it comes to selling NFL-branded merchandise, such as jerseys, t-shirts, and hats.

"We conclude that the NFL's licensing activities constitute concerted action that is not categorically beyond the coverage of (federal antitrust law)", Justice John Paul Stevens wrote in the court's opinion.

Buffalo Grove, Illinois clothing manufacturer American Needle Inc. had sued the NFL after the league signed an exclusive licensing deal with Reebok in 2001. Lawyers for American Needle argued that the NFL had violated anti-trust laws by freezing them out of the marketplace.

American Needle's lawsuit will now return to district court.