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NFL Makes Official Decision On 2025 Christmas Day Games

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Apr 1, 2025 12:21 PM ET

The NFL will attempt to seize control of Christmas.

Last year, the NFL held a Christmas doubleheader despite Dec. 25 falling on a Wednesday. Netflix streamed live games for the first time.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James declared that "Christmas is our day," but the NFL may steal it from the NBA.

Puck's John Ourand reported Monday that the NFL will hold three games next Christmas. ESPN's Adam Schefter confirmed that Netflix will again host two games during the day, but Amazon Prime Video will also stream an evening matchup this December.

Netflix reported that 65 million United States users watched last year's Christmas games, making them the most-streamed NFL games ever. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Baltimore Ravens beat the Houston Texans in two AFC matchups.

A halftime performance by Beyonce also sparked massive viewership for the streaming platform.

"We’re thrilled with our first Christmas Gameday on Netflix with NFL games being streamed to a global audience," said Hans Schroeder, NFL executive vice president of media distribution. “Fans in all 50 states and over 200 countries around the world watched some of the league’s brightest stars along with a dazzling performance by Beyoncé in a historic day for the NFL."

The NBA enjoyed its most-watched Christmas Day slate in five years, but its 5.25 million average viewers over five games paled in comparison to the NFL's numbers. Following that success, it's hard to see the NFL giving up the day.

This year's extra Christmas showcase is a byproduct of Dec. 25 falling on a Thursday. Amazon maintains its traditional Thursday Night Football matchup following the Netflix doubleheader.

Netflix and the NFL reached a three-year partnership before last winter's debut. As a result, the platform is expected to stream more Christmas games in 2026.

The league has yet to reveal the participants for the 2025 Christmas games.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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