NFL responds to criticism from President Donald Trump, Department of Justice over putting games on streaming services

The NFL doesn’t see an issue with how many of its games will air on different streaming services in 2026. When asked about the league’s 2026 schedule Friday, a league executive told ESPN the NFL has “the most fan-friendly model there is. ” With the release of the 2026 NFL schedule Thursday, the full scope of the league’s current broadcast deals came to light.

While many NFL games can be viewed on broadcast television, games will also air on ESPN, Peacock, Netflix and Prime Video, among other services. NFL executive vice president of media distribution Hans Schroeder said Friday that’s unlikely to change moving forward , per ESPN. "We love our model," he said.

"We think we have the most fan-friendly model there is of any sport or entertainment as far as distribution. " That comment was likely a response to increased pressure from President Donald Trump and the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the affordability and availability of watching NFL games. Due to the league’s partnerships with various streaming services, fans are required to purchase multiple subscriptions if they want to have access to every NFL game in 2026.

Trump and other politicians have criticized the league over that decision, citing the rising costs associated with watching NFL games. Trump spoke about the issue during an interview with The National Desk on Sunday. When asked whether the league’s presence on multiple streaming services was a form of “price gouging,” Trump responded by saying, “There’s something very sad when they take football away from many, many people.