Netflix has an exciting early Christmas surprise for sports fans. On December 25, 2024, Netflix will exclusively stream the NFL’s marquee Christmas Day games: the Super Bowl LVII champion Kansas City Chiefs will clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while the Baltimore Ravens take on the Houston Texans. Plus, mark your calendars for Christmas Day in 2025 and 2026, as Netflix will bring at least one holiday game to viewers each year as part of this thrilling three-season deal.
The partnership between Netflix and the NFL has been evolving over the past few years, starting with the acclaimed series Quarterback in 2023. In July, they launched Receiver, which follows five of the NFL’s top pass catchers during the 2023 season: Davante Adams (Raiders), Justin Jefferson (Vikings), George Kittle and Deebo Samuel (49ers), and Amon-Ra St. Brown (Lions).
“Last year, we took a bold step into live events, tapping into the immense fanbase across comedy, reality TV, sports, and more. Nothing compares to the audience NFL football attracts. We’re thrilled to bring the NFL’s Christmas Day games exclusively to Netflix," stated Bela Bajaria, Netflix Chief Content Officer.
NFL Executive Vice President of Media Distribution Hans Schroeder expressed his enthusiasm as well: “We couldn’t be more excited to be the first professional sports league to partner with Netflix to deliver live games to fans worldwide. The NFL on Christmas has become a cherished tradition, and teaming up with Netflix — a platform that sees its biggest viewership on this holiday — is the perfect way to expand this event for NFL fans around the globe.”
NFL Christmas Games
The NFL has been celebrating Christmas games since 1971, with a return to the schedule in 1989. These games have become a holiday staple, especially since 2020, with last year’s three Christmas matchups ranking among the top 25 most-viewed TV programs of 2023. The Raiders vs. Chiefs game, notable for attracting an audience that included Taylor Swift and Santa Claus, recorded the highest Christmas Day viewership since 1988. Overall, the NFL has hosted 30 Christmas contests.
In keeping with the league’s long-standing holiday tradition, the Netflix Christmas Day games will also air on broadcast television in the competing team cities and be available on U.S. mobile devices through NFL+. In the meantime, fans can explore the complete 2024-2025 schedule to stay updated on all the action.
