ESPN lines up biggest NFL season yet from Melbourne to Super Bowl LXI – ESPN will deliver its most comprehensive NFL season for Australian and New Zealand viewers, beginning with the historic NFL Melbourne Game and building through to Super Bowl LXI.
The 2026-2027 NFL season will see ESPN carry a minimum of six live games each week, along with NFL RedZone on Disney+, all playoff games and the Super Bowl from Los Angeles in February 2027.
For Australian NFL fans, the timing is significant. The season begins with unprecedented local attention around the first regular season NFL game played in Australia, giving ESPN a major platform to connect long-time fans and newer viewers across linear channels, streaming and digital coverage.
NFL Melbourne
ESPN’s opening week coverage begins on Thursday, 10 September, when Australian star Michael Dickson and the Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots at Lumen Field in a Super Bowl 60 rematch.
The centrepiece arrives on Friday, 11 September, when the Los Angeles Rams face the San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. ESPN will provide a dedicated localised live broadcast on ESPN and Disney+.
Coverage of the NFL Melbourne Game begins from 9.00am AEST, with kickoff at 10.35am AEST. Bob Wischusen and Louis Riddick will call the game, with coverage also featuring Phil Murphy, Lindsey Thiry, Maurice Jones-Drew and Kelsey Browne.
The broadcast will include the halftime headline performance from the Jonas Brothers.
Inside The Rams
ESPN Australia will also provide access to the Los Angeles Rams’ preparations for the MCG blockbuster through the three-part docuseries It All Starts In Melbourne.
The shortform series will be available on ESPN channels and Disney+. It will feature Rams head coach Sean McVay and players including Myles Garrett, Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, Trent McDuffie, Kobie Turner and Jalen Watson.
Season Coverage
Across the season, ESPN will offer NFL Minis, full game replays and highlights. Preview and review coverage will continue through NFL Blitz, while ESPN NFL journalist Laurie Horesh and Jimmy Smith will host weekly live NFL Afters broadcasts across ESPN’s digital and social platforms.
Australian Super Bowl champion and Philadelphia Eagles star Jordan Mailata will also front OFF THE LINE with JORDAN MAILATA, a new content series taking viewers inside life in the NFL.
Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles will mark The Walt Disney Company and ESPN’s first production of the Super Bowl for the global NFL audience.
NFL Week One On ESPN
Thursday, 10 September
- 9.00am AEST: It All Starts in Melbourne, ESPN
- 9.30am AEST: NFL Blitz from Melbourne, ESPN
- 10.20am AEST: Seattle Seahawks v New England Patriots, ESPN
- 4.30pm AEST: NFL Blitz: Melbourne Game, ESPN2
- 6.00pm AEST: It All Starts in Melbourne, ESPN
Friday, 11 September
- 9.00am AEST: NFL Blitz: Melbourne Game Countdown, ESPN
- 10.35am AEST: Los Angeles Rams v San Francisco 49ers, ESPN
- 1.30pm AEST: NFL Blitz: Postgame from Melbourne, ESPN
- 3.00pm AEST: Los Angeles Rams v San Francisco 49ers replay, ESPN
Monday, 14 September
- 3.00am AEST: Buffalo Bills v Houston Texans, ESPN
- 6.25am AEST: Miami Dolphins v Las Vegas Raiders, ESPN2
- 6.25am AEST: Washington Commanders v Philadelphia Eagles, ESPN
- 9.30am AEST: NFL Blitz, ESPN
- 10.15am AEST: New York Giants v Dallas Cowboys, ESPN
Tuesday, 15 September
- 10.15am AEST: Kansas City Chiefs v Denver Broncos, ESPN
ESPN and ESPN2 are available via Disney+, Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and Sky NZ.
For more NFL coverage, visit TV Central’s NFL section. More details on ESPN’s NFL coverage are available at ESPN Australia.
