• Loading stock data...
Friday, July 11, 2025

NFL Week 1 Draws Best Average Viewership Since 2016

  • Week 1 games averaged 18.5 million viewers, up 3%.
  • Over 121 million fans watched games during Kickoff Weekend
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Despite a weak start Thursday night, the NFL posted a strong Kickoff Weekend TV performance. NFL games averaged 18.5 million viewers across TV and digital platforms — up 3% from Week 1 of last season, and the league’s best TV start since 2016.

To put that in perspective, the six-game 2021 World Series between the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros averaged 11.7 million viewers. 

The NFL’s Week 1 average more than tripled the audience of the Emmy Awards Monday night, which crashed to an all-time low of 5.92 million viewers.

“As the viewership numbers would indicate, our fans are obviously excited to have the NFL back,” said Commissioner Roger Goodell in a statement. “We’re looking forward to Week 2 which will start with a historic game in Kansas City on Amazon Prime Video.”

With viewers flocking to news channels for coverage of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the audience for NBC Sports’ coverage of the season opener between the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams dropped 19% to 21 million-plus viewers. 

But once the full game schedule kicked in on Sunday, the NFL’s TV numbers went on a rocket ride. Consider:

  • Over 121 million fans watched NFL games on Kickoff Weekend Thursday through Monday — up 5% from last year. 
  • Nearly 83 million fans watched games on Sunday afternoon, up 7%.
  • The most-watched game was NBC’s telecast of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ win over the Dallas Cowboys on “Sunday Night Football” (24.5 million average viewers).  
  • CBS posted its best Week 1 audience since 2018, with its doubleheader coverage averaging 17 million viewers.
  • Fox’s own doubleheader averaged 15. 4 miillion viewers, up 11%.
  • ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” had its most-watched telecast since 2009.

Still, there are storm clouds on the horizon. 

The league’s TV partners NBC, CBS Sports, Fox Sports, and ESPN rely heavily on the drawing power of Dak Prescott’s Cowboys and Aaron Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers for ratings. With both NFC powerhouses off to 0-1 starts, audiences could drop for their Week 2 games and beyond.

Both the Cowboys and Packers are slated for national-game slots this Sunday, with Dallas taking on the AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals on CBS at 4:25 p.m. ET and Green Bay playing the Chicago Bears on NBC at 8:20 p.m. ET.

The same dynamic goes for sports talk shows which rely on the appeal of America’s Team – and the mystery around the enigmatic Rodgers – to drive their daily conversation. 

As ESPN’s Mike Greenberg joked on “Get Up” on Wednesday: “If the Cowboys and Aaron Rodgers are both irrelevant, our show goes on hiatus.” 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jul 10, 2025; Wimbledon, United Kingdom; Iga Swiatek of Poland at her on court interview after winning her match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland on day 11 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Wimbledon Set to Deliver Strong Finals Matchup for ESPN

Novak Djokovic is still in the hunt for his 25th Grand Slam.
Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell during the NFLPA press conference at the Super Bowl LIX media center at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

NFLPA Head Has Side Hustle With PE Firm That Can Invest in..

The NFLPA’s executive director is embroiled in multiple controversies.

F1’s ESPN-Apple Dilemma Could Come Down to Reach vs. Money

MLB and MLS games on Apple TV+ have not drawn huge audiences.

NFL’s Alternate Uniforms Fuel Big Business—and Lots of Nostalgia

The Commanders kick off a run of new NFL helmets and uniforms.

Featured Today

Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
Paige Bueckers
exclusive

Women’s March Madness Expansion Wouldn’t Yield More ESPN Money

ESPN is not required to pay extra if women’s March Madness expands.
Jul 6, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Mexico forward Marcel Ruiz (14) heads the ball in front of United States midfielder Brenden Aaronson (11) in the second half during the 2025 Gold Cup Final at NRG Stadium.
July 7, 2025

USMNT Struggles Still Produce Big Gold Cup Ratings for Fox

The U.S. team’s recent issues culminated in a loss to Mexico.
Feb 7, 2025; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies center Tarris Reed Jr. (5) reacts after his basket against the St. John's Red Storm in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
July 8, 2025

After Decade Apart, ESPN and Big East Rekindle Media Rights Relationship

After a decade-plus apart, the network will stream hundreds of conference events.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 2, 2025

Paramount Settles Trump Suit Ahead of NFL Season, Skydance Merger

The deal likely allows the much larger Skydance merger deal to proceed.
Leo Messi
June 27, 2025

TNT, Club World Cup Ride Messi to Surprisingly Solid Debut Ratings

TNT Sports carries about a third of matches in the U.S.
June 24, 2025

Fever vs. Aces Draws 5th-Largest TV Audience of 2025 WNBA Season

ESPN will carry seven more Indiana Fever games this year.
June 23, 2025

NBA Finals Game 7 Is Most-Watched Since 2019, but Series Drops 9%

Game 7 drew 16.35 million viewers, the most-watched NBA game since 2019.