After months of reports about the deal, the NFL announced that it has officially handed control of the NFL Network and other media assets to Disney via ESPN.
NFL Closes Deal to Give ESPN Control of NFL Network
Reports of the ESPN and NFL deal first broke in August 2025, shortly following news of Disney striking an agreement with the NFL to air the Super Bowl on ESPN for the very first time — a negotiation four years in the making. On October 22, the NFL announced it had approved the media deal and was just waiting on government approval.
That approval and the official closure of the NFL Network sale were announced in a joint statement from the NFL and ESPN:
The NFL and ESPN are pleased to announce the official closing of the sale of NFL Network and other NFL Media assets to ESPN. With the closing, we will begin integrating NFL employees into ESPN in the months ahead. As we look to the future, NFL fans can look forward to expanded NFL programming, greater access to NFL Network, innovative fantasy experiences and unparalleled coverage of America’s most popular sport.
In the deal, the NFL receives a 10% stake in ESPN. According to an SEC filing from Disney, the estimated value of the NFL’s investment is $3 billion. This raises ESPN’s total estimated worth to around $30 billion with the acquisition of the NFL Network and NFL Media assets.
‘The Handoff’ Event
ESPN and Disney will start their coverage of the 2027 Super Bowl, the first to be broadcast on ESPN (and most likely on Disney+), more than a year in advance with a 24-hour event called The Handoff. On February 8, 2026, at the conclusion of NFL PrimeTime, Chris Berman will ceremonially “hand off” to Scott Van Pelt at SoFi Stadium, where Super Bowl LXI will take place. The event continues in Disneyland Park, where First Take with Stephen A. Smith, multiple editions of SportsCenter, NFL Live, and a second episode of Super Bowl Live will air from a set in Main Street, U.S.A. ABC News’ Good Morning America and Jimmy Kimmel Live! will also have coverage.
The NFL on Disney+
Disney has increasingly offered more live sports options on its streaming platform. The first simulcast NFL Monday Night Football game, also the first traditional NFL game broadcast made available for standalone Disney+ subscribers, aired on December 22, 2025.
One popular annual broadcast is the real-time animated alternate-telecast of an NFL game. The 2025 edition, Monsters Funday Football, transformed the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Chargers game at SoFi Stadium into an animated event featuring Monsters, Inc. characters. It followed two other successful animated alternate-telecasts, 2023’s Toy Story Funday Football and 2024’s The Simpsons Funday Football.
Are you excited to watch NFL games on ESPN and Disney+? Let us know on social media.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
