On the heels of Tom Brady partnering with Netflix for his roast, the NFL might be next in line to strike a deal with the streaming service.
If you’re an NFL fan tired of seeing games exclusively owned by streaming services, get ready for more. According to Boomer Esiason, the league might be looking to sell a Christmas Day package of games to Netflix.
Esiason made the prediction Tuesday morning on his WFAN radio show with co-host Gregg Giannotti while discussing the Tom Brady roast on Netflix. During the segment, Esiason noted the seven-time Super Bowl champion wasn’t going to sit through a roast like that unless it was for an “enormous amount of money,” speculating a number north of $10 million. Esiason then guessed the NFL could be looking for a big payday from Netflix.
Boomer Esiason says “Do not be surprised if the NFL and Netflix get in bed for a nice little Christmas Day football games.” pic.twitter.com/WFytWNOIun
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“Netflix has about 270 million subscribers worldwide and this is why I think that Netflix – are you ready for this?” Esiason said. “This is what I think is going to happen, could be wrong, but I don’t think I am…Do not be surprised if the NFL and Netflix get in bed for a nice little Christmas Day football games. I would not be surprised.”
Traditionally, Christmas Day has been a spotlight for the NBA, serving as a sort of unofficial grand opening spectacle for their season, even though their games tip off two months earlier. In recent years, however, the NFL has usurped the NBA on Christmas Day and they’re slated to do it again this year with another schedule of games on Dec. 25…a Wednesday. This is not the first time in recent years that the NFL played on a Wednesday, the Ravens and Steelers were featured in a midweek game during the 2020 COVID-hindered season.
As the NFL attempts to make its Christmas Day games an event, much like Thanksgiving, Esiason believes they’re destined to sell it off to Netflix. It’s also interesting to hear Esiason discuss the potential looming NFL partner. Last week, CBS announced they were replacing Esiason and Phil Simms on The NFL Today with Matt Ryan. If Netflix is looking to build their own broadcast and studio show for a Christmas package of NFL games, Esiason seems like an obvious analyst to check in with.
[WFAN]
About Brandon Contes
Brandon Contes is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. He previously helped carve the sports vertical for Mediaite and spent more than three years with Barrett Sports Media. Send tips/comments/complaints to bcontes@thecomeback.com