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The NFL returned Thursday—though only with its first preseason contest of 2025. But viewership numbers for the first preseason game showcase how much Americans care about the NFL.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Thursday between the Chargers and Lions drew 6.9 million viewers on NBC, according to Nielsen ratings. It was up about 40% from last year’s game between the Bears and Texans on ABC, and it was the most-watched version of the game since 2021, when the Steelers and Cowboys drew 7.3 million.
The strong viewership numbers for the exhibition come despite neither team trotting out its starters, including quarterbacks Jared Goff and Justin Herbert. Los Angeles also won in a blowout, 34–7.
NFL’s Dominance Continues
The NBA and MLB rarely surpass 6.9 million viewers for a game unless it’s in their championship series, while the NHL’s 2025 Stanley Cup Final averaged 2.5 million viewers in the U.S.
While all seven NBA Finals games drew more than the Hall of Fame Game, only two playoff games before the championship series eclipsed 6.9 million viewers.
Thursday’s NFL preseason contest also outpaced its own all-star showcase.
The NFL’s Pro Bowl Games in February, the third year the games have been rebranded to include a flag football event, drew 4.7 million viewers. However, the 2025 Hall of Fame Game drew even more viewers than the 2022 Pro Bowl Games, the last tackle football version of the event (6.7 million).
It also drew more than the NBA’s All-Star Game, which averaged 4.7 million viewers in February.
MLB drew 7.2 million viewers last month, slightly more than the 2025 Hall of Fame Game. The final of the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off, the tournament that replaced the league’s All-Star Game last year, drew 9.3 million—the most-watched NHL game in the U.S. ever.
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