How To Watch NFL Games on ESPN+
Not having cable or satellite TV is no longer a deal-breaker for NFL fans. Check out how many games and must-see shows you’ll get with ESPN+.
Heads up! As of October 2025, ESPN+ has been rebranded as ESPN Select. This page still refers to the service as ESPN+ for familiarity’s sake.
The NFL has a large TV footprint across pretty much every major network imaginable—ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX. Right about now, you might be asking yourself: “So where does ESPN+ fit into that?” I have the answer.
Because Disney owns ABC and ESPN, it allows some NFL games on either network to be simulcast on the streaming service. Disney’s NFL TV deal also makes room for special events. For instance, Week 7 of the NFL season will feature a Monday Night Football game exclusively on ESPN+ for the second straight season.
If you’ve been curious about what ESPN+ has to offer in the way of NFL football, stay on this page to find out more.
The Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks face off in an ESPN+ exclusive
For the second consecutive season, the NFL is having one of its Monday Night Football games as a streaming exclusive. Prior to last season, the streaming-only games were ones that took place internationally.
In 2025, it’s the Texans and Seahawks who get to showcase their talents to ESPN+’s nearly 25 million subscribers during Week 7. Houston is a team that has made the playoffs each of the last two seasons, while Seattle hasn’t reached the postseason over the same time frame. Perhaps by that point of the season, each team will be in the playoff hunt and the matchup will carry plenty of intrigue.
The game will also have some implications from a broadcaster perspective. Last year’s ESPN+ exclusive NFL game reportedly attracted less than 2 million viewers—much lower than the 15 million average viewers who tuned into MNF in 2024.
You can watch the NFL Pro Bowl, NFL Primetime, and even flag football events on ESPN+
The bread and butter for ESPN+’s programming lies in live sports, whether it’s the exclusive NFL broadcast between the Texans and Seahawks, wall-to-wall coverage of Wimbledon, or sports like soccer and UFC. But for NFL heads out there, the streaming service also offers other types of content that sets the service apart from others.
Coming up in July is the NFL Flag Championships, starting July 18 and going through July 20. NFL Flag is the league’s official flag football arm that showcases youth players in the United States and internationally. ESPN+, as well as other networks, will broadcast the three-day championship event as early as 10:00 a.m. ET each day.
Then there’s the popular studio show NFL Primetime, co-hosted by Chris Berman and former Denver Broncos linebacker Tom Jackson. The show used to air on ESPN, but became digital-only in 2019. The move to ESPN+ also marked a return to the program for Berman and Jackson.
Did you know? Aside from airing live sports and providing in-depth studio shows, ESPN+ also makes original content. A couple of NFL-related examples are The Places Universe and The Man in the Arena.
2025–2026 NFL on ESPN+ TV schedule
Historically, most games broadcast on ABC were also simulcast on ESPN+. During the 2024 season, 13 games appeared on the streaming service, including the exclusive between the Los Angeles Chargers and Arizona Cardinals. Select games with Manningcast also appeared on ESPN+.
The full NFL on ESPN+ schedule has yet to be announced for the 2025 season. But I’ll update this page as soon as it’s released.
NFL on ESPN+ FAQ
How can you get ESPN+ for free?
ESPN+ doesn’t have a free trial at the moment. But it’s available as a free add-on with Hulu + Live TV, which offers a three-day free trial.
Does ESPN+ have documentaries?
ESPN+ offers myriad documentaries about various sports and athletic figures, including the NFL. The service might be best known for having the entire 30 for 30 series.
Do I need a TV provider to access ESPN+?
It depends. If you subscribe to ESPN+, you’ll be able to watch any of its original or exclusive content. You’ll also be able to stream whatever NFL games are simulcast on ESPN+. But to access ESPN, ESPN2, and select other content not labeled as ESPN+, you will need to log into a TV provider.
Why you should trust us
At CableTV.com, we strive to offer insight, analysis, and recommendations from a fan-first perspective. For this guide, I researched what NFL content ESPN+ has to offer. I also verified channels and times for its NFL events and analyzed why the streaming service might be great for pro football fans.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
