Freeney Warns NFL's Streaming Expansion Is Pricing Out Ordinary Fans
Pro Football Hall of Famer Dwight Freeney said NFL games should remain financially accessible to fans across all income levels, even as the league continues to distribute more matchups across subscription-based streaming platforms. "I don't like it," Freeney said. "I think it should be accessible to all fans, no matter what your economic bracket is."
Freeney, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2024 after a 16-season career that produced 125.5 sacks, acknowledged the commercial logic behind the league's media strategy. The NFL's current distribution agreements place games on traditional broadcast networks, cable and multiple streaming platforms. According to the league, Prime Video carries Thursday Night Football, while Netflix will stream games in Week 1 of the 2026 season, on Thanksgiving Eve and on Christmas Day, and Peacock will exclusively stream a regular-season game in January. The NFL has stated it remains the only major sports league to present all regular-season and postseason games on free over-the-air television in local markets. russia rapido
Despite that claim, the arrangement has drawn scrutiny at the federal level. A House Judiciary Committee interim staff report on the Sports Broadcasting Act found that fans increasingly need a combination of over-the-air, cable and streaming services to follow their teams, and that some supporters may spend more than $600 per season to watch all of a single franchise's games. Senator Mike Lee of Utah separately asked the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to examine whether the NFL's current distribution model still qualifies for the limited antitrust protection provided under the Sports Broadcasting Act, citing estimates that combined cable, streaming and internet costs reached nearly $1,000 for some fans in the previous season.
Freeney did not discount the financial benefits the deals generate for players - greater television and streaming revenue increases the salary cap pool - but said the consumer impact concerns him. "The fans, I'm not so sure," he said. He called for a hybrid model that preserves local broadcast access alongside streaming options. "Maybe there's a combination of things whereas you have the ability to stream, but it also is on your local networks," he said. "I wish there was a way to figure that out." Freeney noted that even with subscriptions to every available service, he still struggles to locate certain games. "Sometimes, even me, I'm having a hard time finding games from time to time," he said.
Beyond the media rights debate, Freeney said he expects at least one overlooked team to emerge as a legitimate contender during the coming season. On his former franchise, the Indianapolis Colts, he identified quarterback Daniel Jones's health as the central variable for the offense and cited the pass rush as the defensive area most in need of improvement. Freeney is also set to compete at the American Century Championship golf tournament, where he said his primary goal is consistency - limiting damage during poor stretches rather than targeting any individual opponent. "As long as I can stay steady, play golf the way that I know I can play, I'm gonna be in the top 15, hopefully," he said.
