While Pro Football Hall of Famer Dwight Freeney acknowledges the NFL's increasing shift toward streaming platforms, he also recognizes the growing frustration among fans. The former defensive end, who amassed 125.5 sacks over his 16-season career and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024, advocates for the continued broad accessibility of professional football games.
"I don’t like it," Freeney stated, referring to the expanding array of streaming services fans are now required to subscribe to in order to follow the league. "Just to be honest with you, I think it should be accessible to all fans, no matter what your economic bracket is."
The Growing Debate Over NFL Accessibility
The distribution model for NFL games has become a significant topic within sports media discussions. The league's upcoming 2026 schedule illustrates this trend, with games slated for traditional broadcast television, cable, and several distinct streaming platforms. The NFL has confirmed that Prime Video will continue to host Thursday Night Football, while Netflix is set to stream games during Week 1, on Thanksgiving Eve, and on Christmas Day. Additionally, Peacock will exclusively broadcast a regular-season game in January.
Freeney emphasized the importance of maintaining the local fan experience. He argued, "If you can afford to get the local channels, you should be able to watch your favorite team on your local networks. And it shouldn’t be blacked out based on streaming and all of that."
The NFL has consistently highlighted that its games are still available free over the air in their respective local markets. In announcing its 2026 schedule, the league asserted its unique position as the only sports organization to offer all regular-season and postseason games on free over-the-air television within local regions.
Despite the league's assurances, the issue of broader access has attracted significant attention from lawmakers in Washington. In June, the House Judiciary Committee published an interim staff report concerning the Sports Broadcasting Act and the NFL's media strategy. The report indicated that fans increasingly require a mix of over-the-air broadcasts, cable subscriptions, and streaming services to follow their preferred teams. Furthermore, the committee noted that some supporters might incur costs exceeding $600 per season to view all of a single team's games. Separately, Senator Mike Lee formally requested that the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission investigate whether the NFL's current distribution methods align with the limited antitrust protections provided by the Sports Broadcasting Act. In his request, Senator Lee estimated that fans spent nearly $1,000 last season when factoring in combined expenses for cable, streaming, and internet services.
Balancing Financial Gains with Fan Experience
Freeney acknowledged the financial aspects of these arrangements, recognizing that the league's streaming and television contracts offer substantial economic advantages, benefiting even the players. "I understand the money and the economics behind it," Freeney explained. He added, "A lot of money goes into signing those contracts with the Amazons and, you know, and I don’t even know if it’s Netflix now... I know it helps the players obviously, because the more money that you, the deals that you do off the field and TV deals, the more money the players are gonna get. And so I know it’s good for the league." However, his primary concern remains with the consumers. "The fans, I’m not so sure," Freeney concluded.
Freeney's perspective lies in finding a balance. He conceded that streaming offers certain viewers enhanced flexibility, enabling subscribers to watch games on various devices like tablets and phones, free from the constraints of a conventional television. "If you can afford it, great," Freeney remarked. "And then you have your iPad, you can bring it, you can stream everything, you don’t have to be at home, that’s great."
Nevertheless, Freeney maintains that the league should explore a distribution model that integrates streaming options while simultaneously safeguarding local broadcast access. "Maybe there’s a combination of things to whereas though they can do to whereas though you have the ability to stream, but it also is on your local networks," Freeney suggested. "I wish there was a way to figure that out."
Freeney candidly described his own viewing habits: "I’m a junkie. I have all of them. I have every single streaming. Even if I don’t need it, I have it." He acknowledged his privileged position, stating, "I’m blessed enough to be able to have that ability to get all of those things. My cable bill or my streaming bill is probably one of the higher ones... Not everyone has that ability maybe. So, you know, I think they should have some way of changing certain things."
Even for someone with access to every available service, Freeney admitted that navigating the contemporary broadcast landscape can be challenging. "Sometimes, you know, even me, I’m having a hard time finding games from time to time," he confessed.
Season Outlook and Personal Pursuits
Shifting focus to the upcoming NFL season, Freeney expressed his keen interest in identifying which team will defy expectations. "I think it’s just seeing what team is gonna be the new team this year that no one’s talked about," he remarked. He observed that preseason forecasts frequently overlook several teams, even as perennial powerhouses maintain their top positions. Each season, he noted, certain teams begin with minimal attention but ultimately emerge as serious contenders. "So I wanna see who those surprises are," Freeney concluded.
Regarding his former team, the Indianapolis Colts, Freeney highlighted quarterback Daniel Jones’ health as a critical determinant of the offense's potential. He commended head coach Shane Steichen’s adeptness with quarterbacks, suggesting that Jones could thrive by trusting the established system.
"If Daniel can stay healthy, I mean, sky’s the limit," Freeney asserted.
On the defensive side, Freeney indicated that the Colts require improvement in crucial aspects, especially their pass rush. As a renowned pass rusher from his era, he stated this would be among the first elements he scrutinizes. "My question is, are we gonna get the pass rush that we need?" Freeney posed. "If we can kind of mix the coverage with the rush, I think we’re gonna be good."
When questioned about the Seahawks' prospects for a repeat championship, Freeney adopted a more reserved tone. He noted that achieving consecutive titles is among the most formidable feats in the NFL, particularly within a highly competitive division. "I would bet against the fact that they’re gonna repeat," Freeney commented, "But that doesn’t mean they’re not gonna have a good year."
This month, Freeney is set to participate in the American Century Championship once again, aiming to assess his improvement since the previous year. "I’m trying to see if my golf game is up to par," Freeney remarked, expressing his belief that he has "an opportunity to be better this year than last year."
He characterized his past performance as inconsistent, noting his game was "really good until it’s not." Freeney identified the crucial factor for him as minimizing errors when a round begins to falter. "My whole goal right now is just to get to a point where I can be consistent, and my bad can’t be that bad," he explained.
Freeney clarified that his focus is not on outperforming a specific rival. Instead, his strategy involves managing the course effectively, preventing a single poor stretch from escalating into multiple bad holes, and positioning himself for a commendable outcome. "I’m not playing any individual, I’m really playing the course," Freeney affirmed. "As long as I can stay steady, play golf the way that I know I can play, I’m gonna be in the top 15, hopefully." He expressed that while he doesn't believe his game is currently at a championship-winning level, he feels capable of contending for a top-15 or even a top-10 spot.
