Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell has weighed in on the growing debate over the affordability of watching NFL games, as the league continues to shift its broadcasts to an array of streaming platforms. Speaking at a news conference for the American Century Championship golf tournament, O'Connell acknowledged the importance of ensuring that all fans have a viable way to follow their favorite teams, even as the media landscape evolves.
«I think it's important that we continue to make it something that, you know, all fans can have a pathway to watching our games,» O'Connell told Fox News Digital on Thursday. He emphasized that nothing compares to the in-stadium experience at venues like U.S. Bank Stadium or SoFi Stadium, but added, «I can tell you that it's very important for the NFL to have our games be available to as many of our fans as we possibly can.»
The issue has drawn increasing scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators. In June, the House Judiciary Committee released an interim staff report on the Sports Broadcasting Act and the NFL's media model, finding that fans increasingly need a combination of over-the-air, cable, and streaming services to watch all of a single team's games. The committee noted that some fans must pay more than $600 per season to follow one team. Separately, Senator Mike Lee of Utah has asked the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to examine whether the NFL's distribution practices still fall within the limited antitrust protection granted by the Sports Broadcasting Act. Lee estimated that fans spent nearly $1,000 last season when cable, streaming, and internet costs were combined.
Despite these concerns, O'Connell defended the league's media rights contracts, arguing that the shift toward streaming aligns with broader changes in how consumers access entertainment. «I think it's an alignment with where a lot of, you know, not just sports media, but media in general, has kind of gone, where the consumer is choosing different ways to find their entertainment,» he said. He noted that the NFL is «always trying to find different pathways to new fans, not only in the United States, but it's clear globally as well.»
The NFL's 2026 schedule reflects this strategy, with games spread across traditional broadcast networks, cable, and multiple streaming platforms. According to the league, Prime Video will carry «Thursday Night Football,» Netflix will stream games in Week 1, on Thanksgiving Eve, and on Christmas Day, and Peacock will exclusively stream a regular-season game in January. The NFL has pointed out that all regular-season and postseason games remain available free over the air in local markets, making it the only sports league to do so.
The broader access question has also caught the attention of the Federal Communications Commission. In recent months, lawmakers have pressed the FCC to examine whether the proliferation of streaming-exclusive games unfairly burdens consumers, particularly those in rural areas with limited internet access. The NFL has maintained that its current model balances innovation with accessibility, but critics argue that the growing number of required subscriptions is pricing out working-class fans.
O'Connell made his comments while preparing to compete in the American Century Championship for the first time at Edgewood Tahoe this weekend. The celebrity golf tournament features a star-studded lineup, including NFL players Davante Adams, Baker Mayfield, Trevor Lawrence, and Kyle Juszczyk, as well as Hall of Famers Drew Brees, Jerry Rice, Steve Young, Marcus Allen, Charles Woodson, Brian Urlacher, Tim Brown, Dwight Freeney, and DeMarcus Ware. The event highlights the intersection of sports and entertainment, a space where the NFL is increasingly active as it seeks to expand its global footprint.
As the league navigates the tension between maximizing revenue and maintaining fan access, O'Connell's comments reflect a broader recognition within the NFL that the issue is not going away. «Our game is very, very popular, and I know it's a very important thing for the league to continue to make our game available to every possible fan out there,» he said. Whether the league can achieve that goal while satisfying both its corporate partners and its most loyal supporters remains an open question.
