NFL Teams Could Earn Over $600 Million Per Season in New TV Deals

League plans to renegotiate broadcast rights early, seeking massive increase in revenue.

Mar. 1, 2026 at 11:31am

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The NFL is preparing to renegotiate its lucrative broadcast rights deals, which could result in each team earning over $600 million per season - nearly double the current $312.5 million per team. The league plans to pull out of its current deals early and ask for much more money, capitalizing on the sport's continued popularity and viewership growth.

Why it matters

The potential increase in broadcast revenue would provide a massive financial boost to NFL teams, allowing them to invest more in player salaries, stadium upgrades, and other operations. However, the league's reported frustration over the NBA's new deal with NBC could lead to tense negotiations with networks.

The details

According to media industry analyst John Ourand, the NFL's 'cost per viewer hour' is currently much lower than the NBA's, meaning the league is undervalued compared to its popularity. The NFL currently makes $10 billion per year from broadcast rights alone, which could increase to $25 billion per year - or $625 million per team - if the league pulls out of its current deals early. The league is also considering offering streaming packages to services like Netflix and YouTube.

  • The NFL's current broadcast deals, except for ESPN's, expire in 2029.
  • The league plans to renegotiate these deals early, potentially as soon as 2026.

The players

Roger Goodell

The commissioner of the National Football League, who is overseeing the league's broadcast rights negotiations.

John Ourand

A media industry analyst who has provided insights into the potential value of the NFL's next round of broadcast deals.

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What they’re saying

“The NFL draws much more viewership than the NBA, making its product much more valuable. This likely will get addressed when the league starts to negotiate with networks in perhaps three years.”

— John Ourand, Media Industry Analyst

What’s next

The NFL is expected to begin negotiations with networks in the next few years, as it seeks to maximize the value of its broadcast rights and capitalize on the league's continued popularity and viewership growth.

The takeaway

The potential for the NFL to earn over $600 million per team in new broadcast deals highlights the league's immense value and bargaining power. This windfall could have far-reaching implications for the sport, allowing teams to invest more in players, stadiums, and other operations, while also potentially leading to tensions with networks over the league's perceived undervaluation compared to the NBA.