Netflix may be close to adding more NFL games, and that could matter to you more than the company fight behind it.
The latest reports say Netflix and the NFL are nearing a deal for a five-game package for the 2026 season. YouTube, which had earlier been reported as a frontrunner, could now end up with nothing.
If this happens, more NFL games could move onto yet another service.
What games could end up on Netflix?
The reported five-game package will likely include a mix of new and existing NFL windows. These games or slots are likely to be the core of the package, which includes:
- The Week 1 game in Australia between the 49ers and Rams on September 10
- A new Thanksgiving Eve game
- The Christmas Day games that Netflix already carries
- A Week 18 Saturday game that would lead into an ESPN doubleheader
Not every detail is locked down in public yet. Still, the direction is clear. Netflix is being linked to more NFL inventory than just Christmas fixtures.
Why this could make the NFL harder to watch
If you already pay for Netflix, this may not sound like a big problem. You may even like it.
For many fans, the bigger issue is that NFL coverage is already spread across too many places. Regulators have already started looking at this problem because of concerns about affordability and access.
The Federal Communications Commission opened a public review this year into the shift of live sports from broadcast TV to streaming and pay TV. AP reported that the review was driven in part by concern over how expensive and fragmented live sports access has become for fans.
So if the NFL puts more games on Netflix, the league may be making life easier for one partner while making life messier for viewers who want one simple answer to the question, “Where can I watch?”
What about YouTube?
In mid-April, Reuters reported that YouTube and the NFL were close to a five-game deal. That earlier report came after Front Office Sports said the two sides had entered a long-form contract review. At that point, YouTube looked like the likely home for the package.
Now the picture looks different. The newest reporting says Netflix is closing in, and YouTube could get shut out.
YouTube already has a major NFL relationship through Sunday Ticket, and it carried last season’s Brazil opener. The event drew 19.7 million global viewers, including 18.5 million in the U.S.
If YouTube loses this package, those millions of fans who already use YouTube for some NFL viewing would not get access.
Why the NFL keeps doing this
The NFL has made it clear that it wants to keep talking to non-traditional media companies.
From the league’s side, that strategy makes sense. More bidders means more money, more flexibility, and more ways to package games.