The Pittsburgh Steelers have secured a two-year contract extension with running back Jaylen Warren, as announced by his agent, David Canter. Originally set to earn $5.3 million in 2025, Warren's new deal increases his earnings to $7 million, totaling nearly $17.5 million through the 2027 season, with $12 million guaranteed. Since joining the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2022, Warren has accumulated 1,674 rushing yards and six touchdowns, along with 894 receiving yards over 48 games in a backup role. With Najee Harris's recent move to the Los Angeles Chargers, Warren is now positioned as the starting running back for the Steelers. The team is set to begin their season against the New York Jets on Sunday.
In other league developments, the NFL experienced a significant surge in preseason television ratings, marking a 17% increase over the previous year and reaching the highest viewership since 2018. Major networks, including NFL Network, ESPN, CBS, NBC, and FOX, averaged 2.2 million viewers per game. NFL Network, which broadcast the majority of the games, achieved a record average of 1.8 million viewers, a 26% rise year-over-year. This boost in preseason viewership follows a 2.2% dip in regular-season viewership in 2024, which had dropped to 17.5 million viewers per game. The trend appears promising, particularly with the Hall of Fame Game on July 31 between the Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions drawing 6.9 million viewers, a 40% jump from the previous year. The NFL regular season is set to begin on September 4 with the Dallas Cowboys facing the Philadelphia Eagles.
Internationally, Sky Sports has expanded its partnership with the NFL by signing a new three-year agreement to broadcast live games in the UK and Ireland through the 2027 season. This deal includes all London and European games, reflecting a 50% increase in the number of live matches available to subscribers. As part of the new agreement, Sky will air a second game at 6 p.m. local time, with up to two more live games at 9 p.m., starting from the opening weekend of the season. The agreement also includes the NFL’s inaugural games in Ireland and Spain, with notable matchups such as the Minnesota Vikings versus the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin and the Washington Commanders versus the Miami Dolphins in Madrid. Other European fixtures will also be held in London and Berlin. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but the arrangement underscores the NFL’s commitment to growing its fan base in the UK and internationally.
Domestically, the NFL is set to achieve record media-rights revenue for the 2025-26 season, with total agreements reaching nearly $110 billion over 11 years—more than doubling previous contracts. This underscores the NFL's robust media presence and economic impact. Major streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube are expanding their NFL coverage, with Netflix broadcasting two Christmas games annually from 2024 to 2026 , and YouTube set to stream its first exclusive game and a Super Bowl Flag Football game under a multiyear deal. Despite a 2.2% dip in domestic viewership in 2024, the NFL's media presence has grown, aided by new partnerships and strong streaming performance. A notable shift in the sports media landscape includes ESPN acquiring NFL Network, RedZone, and NFL fantasy football assets, while the NFL takes a 10% stake in ESPN, significantly boosting ESPN's NFL coverage.
Additionally, the NFL and Nike have launched the "Rivalries 2025" program, a new collection of eight uniforms designed to celebrate iconic American football rivalries and strengthen the bond between teams, communities, and fans. These uniforms, inspired by the local identity and history of the clubs, will debut in key matchups during the 2025 season, including the NFL Madrid Game between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders. The designs have been developed in collaboration with Nike and each participating team, and will be used not only in the inaugural game but also in an official rotation over three seasons. In addition to the uniforms, themed products such as T-shirts, caps, sweatshirts, and collectible helmets will be available globally starting September 10 on multiple platforms and points of sale. The program will also feature support from EA Sports, which will integrate Rivalries content into Madden 26. Finally, the Rivalries cycle will continue with new designs in the 2026 to 2028 seasons.
In the realm of sports betting, legal wagering on the NFL is projected to reach a record $30 billion in the 2025 season, marking an 8.5% increase from the $27.6 billion wagered in 2024. This figure includes bets placed on preseason games and futures starting as early as March. Legal sports wagering is currently available in 38 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, with Missouri set to become the 39th state later in the year. However, California and Texas remain among the 10 states yet to legalize sports betting. Leading providers in the industry include DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, bet365, Fanatics, and ESPN BET. The NFL season inaugurates next Thursday with a game between the reigning champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Dallas Cowboys. The Kansas City Chiefs will face the Los Angeles Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the following day. The season will culminate in the Super Bowl on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
