NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix could face a limited field of on-air talent to pick from.
NFL On Netflix On-Air Talent Issue
Another loaded @FOS TunedIn newsletter with @MMcCarthyREV + @AEricFisher
-ESPN/Fox are against sharing talent for Netflix NFL Xmas games
-MLB/ESPN back in talks
-Steelers win-now mode good for national NFL mediahttps://t.co/5D9C48OOrU— Ryan Glasspiegel (@sportsrapport) July 1, 2025
Netflix could face major hurdles this year when it airs two Christmas Day games on Dec. 25.
Per Front Office Sports, ESPN and Fox won’t provide talent to appear on Netflix presentations of the games.
Things could change if new terms are created. For now, ESPN and Fox are out.
Amazon’s football team has a Christmas Night game because the holiday falls on Thursday. Therefore, don’t expect Amazon to lend any of its talent to Netflix for the two early games.
This marks a major change from last season, when multiple networks allowed their talent to appear on Netflix. ESPN allowed Mina Kimes, Laura Rutledge, and Jason McCourty to work on the pregame shows.
Fox denied its top announcing team of Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady permission to work the Netflix games in 2024. However, Greg Olsen worked as a color commentator alongside NBC’s Noah Eagle.
It’s unknown if NBC will lend talent to Netflix.
Without Fox, ESPN, Amazon, and potentially NBC, Netflix will have to rely on CBS and the NFL Network. CBS produced the games for Netflix last season, so expect the streamer to rely on broadcasters like Ian Eagle, J.J. Watt, and Nate Burleson to call games.
Why would networks not provide talent to Netflix? FOS suggests it could have to do with the NFL’s impending opt-out clause in 2029 for their media rights deal. Some of the networks don’t want Netflix to gain a bigger package. Therefore, they don’t want to help a rival.
NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix featured two games in 2024: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans.
NFL On Christmas 2025 Schedule
Here's an early Christmas gift: the NFL is LIVE on Netflix!
Thursday December 25
Cowboys vs. Commanders at 1 PM ET
Lions vs. Vikings at 4:30 PM ET pic.twitter.com/GrrnSV1maY— Netflix (@netflix) May 14, 2025
Football will be under everyone’s stockings on Christmas, which falls on Thursday, Dec. 25.
The first game is a battle between NFC East rivals, the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders. The kickoff is at 1 p.m. ET from Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.
The late-afternoon game puts the spotlight on the NFC North as the Detroit Lions play the Minnesota Vikings. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Both games will stream live on Netflix.
Prime Video’s Christmas Day nightcap features the Denver Broncos playing the Kansas City Chiefs at 8:15 p.m. ET at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mi
