Get your planners ready. The 2025 NFL schedule will be released soon, giving fans a chance to plot their fall itineraries. Ahead of the big day, here are questions (and answers) to get you prepared.
1. When will the 2025 schedule be released? How can I watch it?
During the 2025 NFL Draft, the league announced the date for the schedule announcement: Wednesday, May 14. The NFL loves to make a spectacle out of everything.
ESPN2 and NFL Network will cover the schedule reveal with separate broadcasts beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
2. Who do teams play?
Every team already knows its 2025 opponents.
Teams play division opponents twice, making up six of the 17 games. They also play all four teams from two other divisions — one AFC, one NFC — bringing us to 14. The final three opponents are dependent on where each team finished in its division the previous season. They include two intraconference and one rotating interconference game.
Here’s a quick refresher of who each division plays (Note: Asterisk is for the division with one opponent):
• AFC East (AFC North, NFC South, NFC East*)
• AFC North (AFC East, NFC North, NFC West*)
• AFC South (AFC West, NFC West, NFC South*)
• AFC West (AFC South, NFC East, NFC North*)
• NFC East (NFC North, AFC West, AFC East*)
• NFC North (NFC East, AFC North, AFC West*)
• NFC South (NFC West, AFC East, AFC South*)
• NFC West (NFC South, AFC South, AFC North*)
3. Will games be announced before the full schedule release?
Yes. On Monday (May 12), “select games” will be revealed on NBC, Fox and Prime Video, per NFL.com. Perhaps then we’ll learn who the Eagles will play to start the season and who’s on the docket for Amazon’s Black Friday or Christmas evening game.
On Tuesday (May 13), ESPN will share a sneak peek with “Good Morning America,” and the international slate will be announced on “Good Morning Football.” CBS will reveal a game Wednesday (May 14), when Netflix will also share one of its Christmas Day games.
4. What are the best possible options for the Thursday Night Kickoff?
The Philadelphia Eagles will celebrate their Super Bowl LIX win by hosting the first game of the 2025 season.
They have several intriguing options for Week 1, including a potential NFC Championship Game rematch with the Commanders. They also play the Rams, who nearly beat Philly in the divisional round at Lincoln Financial Field, as well as last year’s NFC No. 1 seed, the Lions. Both would be solid Week 1 options. (Memo to league: Please spare us the Cowboys in this opener.)
If the league wants to save those games between 2024 playoff teams for later in the season, it could put the Broncos, coming off their first playoff appearance in nine seasons, in prime time. The Bears, under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, will be fascinating to watch and are another strong option.
5. How many international games are scheduled?
Seven are scheduled, with the Chargers (São Paulo), Browns (London), Jets (London), Jaguars (London), Colts (Berlin), Steelers (Dublin) and Dolphins (Madrid) already announced as the designated home teams.
6. How much will watching games cost?
Fans might as well start saving now. If there’s a subscription-based streaming service, the NFL is probably linked to it.
While games on Fox, CBS and NBC are available over the air without a cable or app subscription, it’s an investment to watch every notable weekly game.
Since 2022, Prime Video ($14.99 per month) has had exclusive rights to the league’s Thursday night package. In 2023, it added a Black Friday game to its inventory.
ESPN Plus ($11.99 per month) will air an exclusive game for the fourth consecutive year, while NFL Network has broadcast international games, which can be viewed with an NFL Plus subscription ($6.99 per month).
For the second consecutive year, Netflix ($7.99 per month with ads) will air two games on Christmas Day.
Peacock ($7.99 per month) will also air one regular-season game, while the league is looking to spin off its Week 1 Friday night international game in Brazil to another partner, with Max ($16.99 per month) being a potential streaming home. (h/t CBS Sports).
Fans have needed a cable subscription to watch “Monday Night Football” on ESPN for years, although that will change this season. Per reports, Disney, ESPN’s parent company, soon plans to reveal a direct-to-consumer ESPN subscription app, which is expected to cost between $25-$30.
People can expect to pay over $200 to watch every Thursday and Monday night game, plus other streaming exclusive games — or more if you forget to cancel those pesky subscriptions.
