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NBC Sports and ESPN open 2026 NFL season with broadcast coverage

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 9, 2026, 10:00 AM

Last updated Sep 9, 2026

NBC Sports and ESPN open 2026 NFL season with broadcast coverage

Summary

The 2026 NFL regular season begins Sept. 9 with a game between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. NBC Sports broadcasts this opening match, which serves as a rematch of last season's Super Bowl. The following Sunday, Sept. 13, the New York Giants play the Dallas Cowboys on NBC Sports. ESPN launches its Monday Night Football coverage on Sept. 14 featuring the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs. NBC Sports averaged 23.5 million viewers for Sunday Night Football in 2025, while ESPN's Monday Night Football drew an average of 15.8 million viewers. ESPN will also broadcast Super Bowl LXI in February, marking its first time airing the league title game.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks open the season on Sept. 9.
•NBC Sports airs Sunday Night Football with 22 games scheduled for the season.
•ESPN holds rights to 17 Monday Night Football games and Super Bowl LXI.
•ABC will simulcast 10 Monday Night Football games during the season.
•Spanish-language coverage for Sunday games airs on Telemundo and Peacock.

Latest Updates

10:00 AMYahoo Sports — 23.5 million viewers: What to expect this season from CT-based NBC Sports and ESPN's NFL coverage

What they're saying

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Stamford-based NBC Sports and Bristol-based ESPN draw millions of viewers every week for their respective broadcasts of Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football.
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Denver Broncos New England Patriots New York Giants Seattle Seahawks NFL Football