NFL enthusiasts are in for a festive treat this holiday season, courtesy of Netflix.
Mark your calendars for December 25, as Netflix announced on Sunday, October 20, that two exhilarating games will be broadcast live. The Kansas City Chiefs will clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. ET, followed by the Baltimore Ravens taking on the Houston Texans at 4:30 p.m. ET on Christmas Day.
In a captivating video unveiled on YouTube, star Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce couldn't contain his excitement, exclaiming, "What a day for some football, baby!" The video showcased thrilling game-time moments with the teams, all set to the upbeat track "Feliz Navidad."
The NFL is LIVE on Netflix. This Christmas!
— Netflix (@netflix) October 20, 2024
Wednesday December 25
Chiefs vs. Steelers at 1 PM ET
Ravens vs. Texans at 4:30 PM ET pic.twitter.com/gl7nN57CnL
"For the first time ever, the NFL is on Netflix," the text displayed over the video proudly declared. "Huddle up for a new tradition."
This year's Christmas won't be the sole occasion for fans to enjoy NFL action on Netflix. As per the recent announcement, Netflix will also stream at least one Christmas game in 2025 and 2026, forming part of a three-season agreement.
"Last year, we decided to take a big bet on live events—tapping into massive fandoms across comedy, reality TV, sports, and more," expressed Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria in a press release. "There are no live annual events, sports or otherwise, that compare with the audiences NFL football attracts. We're thrilled that the NFL's Christmas Day games will be exclusively on Netflix."
Hans Schroeder, NFL Executive Vice President of Media Distribution, chimed in, stating, "We couldn't be more thrilled to be the first professional sports league collaborating with Netflix to bring live games to fans worldwide. The NFL on Christmas has evolved into a tradition, and partnering with Netflix, a service that typically thrives on this holiday, is the perfect synergy to expand this event globally for NFL enthusiasts."
The NFL inaugurated their Yuletide games back in 1971, with a more regular presence since 1989. The three Christmas games from the previous year were ranked "among the top 25 most-viewed TV programs of 2023" and "garnered the highest Christmas Day viewership since 1988," as per the press release. To date, the NFL has hosted 30 Christmas matchups.
To catch the live NFL action on December 25, NFL fans will need to subscribe or log in to their Netflix accounts. Additionally, the games will be broadcast on TV in the cities of the competing teams and will be accessible on US mobile devices with NFL+.
