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Dwight Freeney understands why the NFL has leaned more into streaming.
He also understands 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 offer 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 2024 class.
“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, regardless of your economic bracket.”
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The issue has become a larger part of the NFL media conversation. The league’s 2026 schedule includes games on traditional broadcast networks, cable and several streaming platforms. According to the NFL, Prime Video will stream Thursday Night Football, Netflix will stream Week 1 games on Thanksgiving Eve and Christmas Day, and Peacock will exclusively stream a regular season game in January.
Freeney said the local fan experience should remain central.
“If you can afford local channels, you should be able to watch your favorite team on your local networks,” he said. “And that shouldn’t be hidden because of streaming and all that.”
The NFL noted that its games remain available for free live in local markets. In its 2026 schedule announcement, the league said it was the only sports league to present all regular season and playoff games on live free television in local markets.
But the broader issue of access is still under scrutiny in Washington. In June, the House Judiciary Committee released an interim report on the NFL’s sports broadcasting law and media model, saying fans increasingly need a combination of live, cable and streaming services to watch their favorite teams. The committee also said some fans must pay more than $600 per season to watch all of a team’s games.
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Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr believes streaming has made it difficult for consumers to follow sports. (Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Sen. Mike Lee also asked the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission to examine whether the NFL’s current distribution practices still fall within the Sports Broadcasting Act’s limited antitrust protections. 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 streaming and television deals have financial benefits, including for players.
“I understand the money and the economics behind it,” Freeney said. “A lot of money goes into signing these 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 make, the more deals you do off the field and on TV, the more money the players will get. And so I know it’s good for the league.”
But he remains worried about consumers.
“Fans, I’m not so sure,” Freeney said.
It is on this balance that Freeney’s position is located. He acknowledges that streaming offers more flexibility for some viewers. Fans with the appropriate 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, it’s great.”
But Freeney still thinks the league should seek a model that keeps streaming available while preserving local access.
“There’s maybe a combination of things, even if you can do that, even if you have the ability to broadcast, but it’s also done on your local networks,” Freeney said. “I wish there was a way to figure this out.”
Freeney acknowledged that he is not personally excluded from the current system. He said he subscribed to the services he needed and more. But he knows that doesn’t reflect the reality of all fans.
“I’m a drug addict,” Freeney said. “I have them all. I have every stream. Even if I don’t need it, I have it…
“I’m blessed to have this ability to get all these things,” Freeney said. “My cable or streaming bill is probably one of the highest…Not everyone may have that capacity,” Freeney said. “So, you know, I think they should have a way to change some things.”
Even with each service, Freeney said the modern setup can still be difficult to follow.
“Sometimes, you know, even I have trouble finding matches every now and then,” he said.
The NFL legend is also keeping tabs on surprise teams in the upcoming season.
When asked what he most wants to see in the upcoming NFL season, Freeney said he’s looking for the team that exceeds expectations.
“I think it’s just a matter of seeing which team is going to be the new team this year that no one has talked about,” Freeney said.
He said preseason predictions often miss at least a few teams, even when the league’s most established teams remain near the top. Every season, he said, some teams enter the year with little attention before becoming legitimate contenders.
“So I want to see who these surprises are,” Freeney said.
As for Freeney’s longtime team, the Indianapolis Colts, he told the Indianapolis Colts, saying the health of Daniel Jones will be a major 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 if he trusted the system.
“If Daniel can stay healthy, I mean, the sky’s the limit,” Freeney said.
Defensively, Freeney said the Colts need to improve in key areas, especially with the pass rush. As one of the best passers of his generation, he said that would be one of the first things he would watch for.
“My question is, are we going to get the pass we need?” Freeney said. “If we can mix the media coverage and the rush, I think we’ll be fine.”
Freeney was more cautious when asked about the Seahawks’ chances of repeating. He said winning back-to-back championships is one of the hardest things to do in the NFL, especially in a competitive division.
“I would bet against them repeating,” Freeney said. “But that doesn’t mean they won’t have a good year.”
Freeney expected to compete in the American Championship of the Century
FILE – Former Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney speaks during his Ring of Honor induction ceremony at 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 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. ((AP Photo/Darron Cummings, file))
Freeney makes his return to the American Century Championship this month, saying he is trying to measure the 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 thinks he has “an opportunity to be better this year than last year.”
He described his previous performance as uneven, saying his game was “really good until it wasn’t.” Freeney said the key for him is to limit the damage when a ball starts to escape.
“My whole goal right now is just to get to a point where I can be consistent, and my bad things can’t be that bad,” he said.
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Freeney said he isn’t focused on beating any one competitor. Instead, he wants to manage the course, avoid letting one bad stretch turn into several bad holes and put himself in position for a respectable finish.
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“I don’t play against an individual, I really play on the course,” Freeney said. “As long as I can stay steady, play golf the way I know I can play, I hope to be in the top 15.”
He said he doesn’t believe his game is ready to win the event, but he thinks he can compete for a top 15 or top 10 finish.
