Netflix has dipped its toe into the NFL ocean with a pair of Christmas games over the past two seasons. Will there be more NFL on Netflix?<\/p>\n
Apparently, yes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe NFL is a great property, and it delivers value as part of our total offering,\u201d Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos said on an earnings call this week, via Matt Yoder of Awful Announcing. \u201cWe are in discussions right now<\/a>, because we think there\u2019s an opportunity to expand the relationship. We\u2019ve learned a lot about what works, and how to value the NFL and live content generally over the last couple of years.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s unclear what the \u201cdiscussions\u201d relate to. YouTube reportedly is working on a long-form contract<\/a> with the NFL for the five-game package that was offered to potential partners for 2026; Netflix, YouTube, and Fox were the three candidates<\/a> as of last weekend.<\/p>\n Could Netflix also be talking to the league about taking over one of the weekly packages?<\/p>\n The full aspirations of Netflix aren\u2019t known. It reportedly \u201cwould love<\/a>\u201d to televise the first game of the season, which is currently part of the NBC package. Last October, Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters said a full package \u201cdoesn\u2019t really fit with our strategy<\/a>.\u201d Peters said Netflix wants more games that the streamer can \u201ceventize<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Still, Netflix chief content office Bela Bajaria blurted out in February 2025 the possibility of taking over one of the Sunday afternoon packages<\/a>. And Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has said Netflix will become a \u201chuge part of our future<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Netflix seems to have a business strategy of being deliberately vague about its words, allowing its actions to do the speaking. And that\u2019s not a bad strategy. It keeps competitors on their toes. It also allows Netflix to eventually say that what it gets is exactly what it wanted.<\/p>\n The reality remains that most of the packages will be available after 2029, with the Monday night games coming up after 2030. Given the new pressure on the NFL regarding the potential limits of its antitrust exemption, the easiest packages to shift to Netflix would be the two that are currently on paid platforms: Thursday night on Amazon and Monday night on ESPN.<\/p>\n