Netflix just made a major power play in the world of sports streaming, and it's one that fans won't want to miss. The streaming giant announced a landmark expansion of its NFL coverage on Wednesday, locking in a five-year deal that will bring five regular-season games and the NFL Honors to subscribers through 2029. This is a significant leap from its previous arrangement, which included just two Christmas Day games starting in 2024.
The new schedule is a true season-long journey, kicking off with a Week 1 matchup and building through key holiday moments. Here's a quick look at what fans can expect: a game on Thanksgiving Eve, two games on Christmas Day, and a Saturday afternoon contest during the final week of the regular season. It's a lineup that's designed to keep viewers engaged from the first whistle to the last.
Two of these matchups have already been confirmed, and they're absolute headliners. The Los Angeles Rams will take on the San Francisco 49ers in a Week 1 showdown set in Melbourne, Australia. Then, in a historic first, the Rams will host the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Eve, November 25. Both games will air in primetime in the U.S. at 8:35 p.m. ET, though the Australia game will kick off at 10:35 a.m. local time on September 11—a true global football experience.
This international clash is part of a broader push by the NFL, which unveiled its full slate of nine international games for the upcoming season. "We've seen how many fans are already on Netflix, so we thought it was a tremendous opportunity to deepen the partnership," said Hans Schroeder, the NFL's executive vice president of media distribution. "Netflix has shown they can make big events even bigger, and we're excited to extend that magic from Week 1 through the NFL Honors."
For fans keeping score, the Thanksgiving Eve and Week 18 games are part of a package the league reclaimed after ESPN acquired NFL Network, while the Week 1 game previously aired on YouTube. The NFL Honors, which began during the 2012 Super Bowl in Indianapolis, will now be a Netflix staple, giving subscribers a front-row seat to the league's biggest awards night.
Whether you're gearing up for the season opener or planning your holiday viewing, this new deal means more football, more moments, and more reasons to celebrate the game. So grab your gear, mark your calendars, and get ready for a new era of NFL action on Netflix.