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Dwight Freeney understands why the NFL has leaned even more toward streaming.
He also sees why many fans are frustrated.
The Pro Football Hall of Famer said he believes NFL games should remain widely accessible, even as the league continues to put more games on subscription platforms. Freeney, who played 16 seasons in the NFL and finished his career with 125.5 sacks, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2024.
“I don’t like it,” Freeney said when asked about the growing number of services fans might need to follow the league. “To be honest with you, I think it should be accessible to all fans, no matter what your economic level is.”
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The topic has become a bigger part of the conversation with the NFL media. The league’s 2026 schedule includes games on traditional broadcast networks, cable and multiple streaming platforms. According to the NFL, Prime Video will stream Thursday Night Football, Netflix will stream games in Week 1, Thanksgiving Eve and Christmas Day, and Peacock will exclusively stream one regular-season game in January.
Freeney said the home fan experience should remain central.
“If you can afford to get the local channels, you should be able to watch your favorite team on your local networks,” he said. “And it shouldn’t be blocked because of streaming and all that.”
The NFL has noted that its games remain available for free over-the-air in local markets. In its 2026 schedule announcement, the league said it is the only sports league to present all regular-season and postseason games on free broadcast television in local markets.
But the broader question of access has still come under scrutiny in Washington. In June, the House Judiciary Committee released an interim report on the Sports Broadcasting Act and the NFL’s media model, saying fans increasingly need a combination of over-the-air, cable and streaming services to watch their favorite teams. The committee also said some fans must pay more than $600 per season to see all of a team’s games.
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Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr believes streaming has made it harder for consumers to follow sports. (Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Senator Mike Lee also called on the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission to examine whether the NFL’s current distribution practices still fit within the limited antitrust protection of the Sports Broadcasting Act. In that request, Lee said fans spent nearly $1,000 last season when cable, streaming and internet costs were combined.
Freeney did not rule out the business aspect of the deal. He said the league’s broadcast and television deals have financial benefits, including for the players.
“I understand the money and economics behind it,” Freeney said. “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 obviously helps the players, because the more money you have, the deals you make off the field and the TV deals, the more money the players are going to get. And I know it’s good for the league.”
But he’s still worried about consumers.
“The fans, I’m not so sure,” Freeney said.
That balance is where Freeney’s position lies. He acknowledges that streaming gives some viewers more flexibility. Fans with the right subscriptions can watch on tablets, phones and other devices, without being tied to a traditional TV setup.
“If you can afford it, great,” Freeney said. “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.”
But Freeney still believes the league should seek a model that keeps streaming available while preserving local access.
“Maybe there’s a combination of things they can do while you have the ability to broadcast, but also on your local networks,” Freeney said. “I wish there was a way to solve it.”
Freeney acknowledged that the current system does not exclude him personally. He said he subscribes to the services he needs, and more. But he knows that this does not reflect the reality of all fans.
“I’m an addict,” Freeney said. “I have them all. I have all the streams. Even if I don’t need them, I have them…
“I’m blessed to have the ability to accomplish all of those things,” Freeney said. “My cable or streaming bill is probably one of the highest… Maybe not everyone has that ability,” Freeney said. “So, you know, I think they should have some way to change certain things.”
Even with all the amenities, Freeney said the modern setup can still be difficult to follow.
“Sometimes, even I have a hard time finding games from time to time,” he said.
The NFL legend is also keeping an eye on surprise teams in the upcoming season.
When asked what he is most interested in seeing during the upcoming NFL season, Freeney said he is looking for the team that exceeds expectations.
“I don’t think anyone is talking about what team is going to be the new one this year,” Freeney said.
He said preseason predictions often fail for at least some teams, even as the league’s most established rosters remain near the top. Every season, he said, there are teams that start the year with little attention before emerging as legitimate contenders.
“So I want to see who those surprises are,” Freeney said.
As for Freeney’s longtime team, the Indianapolis Colts, he said Daniel Jones’ health will be a big factor in how far the offense can go. He praised head coach Shane Steichen’s ability to work with quarterbacks and said Jones could benefit from trusting the system.
“If Daniel can stay healthy, the sky is the limit,” Freeney said.
Defensively, Freeney said the Colts need to improve in key areas, particularly with their pass rush. As one of the best pass rushers of his generation, he said that will be one of the first things he looks at.
“My question is, are we going to get the pass rush we need?” Freeney said. “If we can combine coverage with hustle, I think we’ll be good.”
Freeney was more cautious when asked about the Seahawks’ chances of a repeat. He said winning back-to-back championships is one of the hardest things to do in the NFL, especially in a competitive division.
“I’m betting against the fact that they’re going to repeat,” Freeney said. “But that doesn’t mean they’re not going to have a good year.”
Freeney is ready to compete in the American Century Championship
FILE – Former Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney speaks during his Ring of Honor induction ceremony during halftime of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Indianapolis on Nov. 10, 2019. Joe Thomas, Darrelle Revis and Freeney are finalists in their first year of eligibility for the 2023 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. ((AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File))
Freeney will return to the American Century Championship this month and said he is trying to gauge how much progress he has made since last year.
“I’m trying to see if my golf game is up to par,” Freeney said, adding that he believes he has “a chance to be better this year than last year.”
He described his previous performance as uneven and said his game was “really good until it wasn’t.” Freeney said the key for him is limiting the damage when a bullet starts to escape.
“My goal right now is to get to a point where I can be consistent and my bad can’t be that bad,” he said.
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Freeney said he’s not focused on beating a particular competitor. Instead, you want to manage the course, prevent one bad stretch from turning into several bad holes, and put yourself in position for a respectable finish.
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“I’m not playing against any individual, I’m really playing on the field,” Freeney said. “As long as I can stay steady and play golf the way I know I can, I hope to be in the top 15.”
He said he doesn’t think his game is ready to win the event, but he thinks he can compete for a top-15 or top-10 finish.
