"LMAO AND NOBODY OUTPIZZAS THE HUT?!!" - NFL fans react to league parting ways with long-time sponsor Pizza Hut

The NFL and Little Caesars Pizza are now partners in crime after the league's agreement with Pizza Hut recently ended. The league has a long history of relationships with pizza retailers, as before Pizza Hut, they were sponsored by Papa John's.

The league is teaming up with Little Caesars on a deal that costs them nothing and gives the burgeoning budget pizza supplier a national outlet to gain a greater following, as Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio explained.

"It’s one of the many money-for-nothing deals that the NFL enjoys, by virtue of its size and popularity."

He continued:

"From pizza to beer, to wine, to candy bars, to soda, to soup, to overnight delivery services, to cars, to trucks, to tires, to motor oil, to insurance, to headphones, to tablets, to hot cereal, to mattresses, to teeth aligners, to banks, to fast-food restaurants and more. The NFL gives a business with a coast-to-coast footprint credibility by lending the shield to it, and the business gives the NFL money."

The news that Little Caesars was swooping in to fill the league's pizza deal void got plenty on social media going.

A few fans called out Pizza Hut for their misadvertisement:

This fan gave their view on the matter:

One fan felt that Pizza Hut's departure was long overdue, though why they left it half-said is a mystery:

This person wondered where the funds came from for the cheap chain:

Several fans went after the Little Caesars for perceived quality issues:

Where can the NFL can go after their partnership with Little Caesars ends?

Florio believes the league has few options to go to should this deal with Little Caesars prove short-lasting. Outside of throwing a helmet on a mechanical rat with Chuck E. Cheese or teaming up with food-court regular Sbarro's, there aren't many other ways to go:

"Money ends up being the core. And that’s fine, it’s the American way. Four years ago, Pizza Hut replaced Papa John’s. Now, Little Caesars is stepping up with a better offer than Pizza Hut was willing to make. The challenge for the NFL is that, as nationwide pizza chains go, there really aren’t that many to choose from. Domino’s would be the next stop. Unless Chuck E. Cheese or Sbarro are in play."

Not everyone would make a good sponsor for the league:

"Obviously, only pizza proprietors with a national presence benefit from doing a deal with the National Football League. The simple reality is that, in virtually every American community, there’s a local pizza shop or two (or more) that does it far better than any of the chains ever could."

Whether you like their pizza or not, Little Caesars is here to stay for commercial breaks this upcoming season.