With Netflix’s Christmas Day doubleheader just weeks away, the streamer’s coverage plans are continuing to come into focus.
That includes a star-studded studio show, which is set to be hosted by Kay Adams and include a panel featuring Robert Griffin III, Drew Brees, Mina Kimes and Manti Te’o, Front Office Sports’ Michael McCarthy reported on Monday.
Per McCarthy, the studio show will provide both pregame and postgame analysis for Netflix’s doubleheader featuring the Kansas City Chiefs vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens vs. the Houston Texans. The streamer’s coverage will emanate from Los Angeles, where one of Netflix’s two headquarters are located.
While Adams, Brees and Kimes have all previously been linked to Netflix’s NFL debut via reports, this marks the first reporting regarding Griffin’s role in the coverage. The assignment will also serve as the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner’s return to formal NFL coverage after he was surprisingly laid off by ESPN in a cost-cutting move ahead of the 2024 season.
Taking to social media on Monday, Griffin seemingly confirmed the news in meme form.
Oh we BACK @netflix. All Glory to God 🙏🏾 https://t.co/3WWU6YARsV pic.twitter.com/shPN0lxpp3
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) December 9, 2024
While Netflix obviously isn’t a long-term landing spot — at least for now — for NFL talent, there will be no shortage of eyeballs on its Christmas Day presentation. If last year’s Christmas Day ratings, the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson numbers and, frankly, common sense are any indication, Netflix’s NFL debut figures to be one of the most-watched events of the entire year.
As such, it’s been interesting to see the approach the streamer has taken to formulating its studio show, which will feature a combination of established names and up-and-coming talent from a variety of employers. And even as someone who qualifies as the former like Griffin, it provides a big opportunity for the 2012 NFL Rookie of the Year to showcase himself in a traditional media setting for the first time post-ESPN.
As for the rest of the panel, Kimes is obviously already established as one of ESPN’s top NFL analysts, while Te’o has been an ascending voice at the NFL Network this season. Perhaps the biggest wild card of the group is Brees, who has been soft-launching his return to the NFL media space in recent weeks following his initial underwhelming stint at NBC.
All things considered, Netflix has assembled an intriguing group of analysts and personalities with no shortage of star power and credibility. It will be worth monitoring how the crew’s chemistry meshes on such short notice and what it might mean for the streamer’s future NFL coverage.
