NFL Network's Preseason Week 3 Live Schedule Kicks Off Friday, August 27 at 8:00 PM ET Tripleheader on Saturday, August 28 at 1:00 PM ET Tripleheader on Sunday, August 29 at 1:00 PM ET NFL Network's live preseason schedule concludes with seven Week 3 games starting Friday, August 27 at 8:00 PM ET when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Minnesota Vikings.
Editions of NFL Total Access air at 7:00 PM ET, during halftime of Vikings-Chiefs and at 11:00 PM ET.
NFL Network's preseason Week 3 live schedule continues with a tripleheader on Saturday, August 28, beginning at 1:00 PM ET when the Buffalo Bills host the Green Bay Packers. At 7:00 PM ET, the Tennessee Titans host the Chicago Bears, followed by the Los Angeles Chargers visiting the Seattle Seahawks at 10:00 PM ET. Editions of NFL Total Access air at 12:30 PM ET, and during halftime of Packers-Bills, Bears-Titans and Chargers-Seahawks.
NFL Network's preseason Week 3 live schedule concludes on Sunday, August 29 with a tripleheader starting at 1:00 PM ET with the Jacksonville Jaguars visiting the Dallas Cowboys. At 4:00 PM ET, the San Francisco 49ers host the Las Vegas Raiders, followed by the New England Patriots visiting the New York Giants at 6:00 PM ET. Editions of NFL Total Access air at 12:30 PM ET, during halftime of Jaguars-Cowboys, Raiders-49ers and Patriots-Giants, and at 9:00 PM ET.
Live preseason games on NFL Network are subject to blackouts in the local markets of the participating teams.
Additionally, NFL Network re-airs broadcasts of every preseason Week 3 game.
[/Pages/NFL-Network%27s-%27The-Top-100-Players-of-2021%27-Premieres-Sunday,-August-15.aspx]The Top 100 Players of 2021 concludes on Saturday, August 28 at 4:00 PM ET following Packers-Bills on NFL Network, revealing the Top 10 players over the course of two hours. At 6:00 PM ET, The Top 100 Players of 2021 Reaction Show airs with Steve Wyche, James Jones and Kyle Brandt recapping this year's edition of the series. For a list of players ranked No. 100-11, visit: https://tinyurl.com/3nbb9z7v.
All NFL Network programming – including a record 23 LIVE preseason games – is available across multiple devices (smartphone, PC, tablet and connected TVs) through the NFL app and NFL Network app for subscribers of participating NFL Network providers. Visit NFL.com/watch for more information on how to watch.
NFL Game Pass provides fans in the United States access to live out-of-market preseason games, as well as other exclusive content. NFL Game Pass is available at NFL.com/Game-Pass, as well as on Smartphones, Tablets and Connected TVs via the NFL App.
Below is NFL Network's preseason Week 3 broadcast schedule.
NFL NETWORK 2021 PRESEASON WEEK 3 GAMES SCHEDULE
(ALL TIMES EASTERN; LIVE GAMES IN BOLD; ALL GAMES IN HIGH DEFINITION)
Friday, August 27 1:00 PM ET – Houston Texans vs. Dallas Cowboys (Preseason Week 2) 4:00 PM ET – New York Jets vs. Green Bay Packers (Preseason Week 2) 8:00 PM ET – Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs – LIVE 11:30 PM ET – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Carolina Panthers 2:00 AM ET – Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Jets 4:30 AM ET – Indianapolis Colts vs. Detroit Lions Saturday, August 28 7:00 AM ET – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Carolina Panthers 10:00 AM ET – Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs 1:00 PM ET – Green Bay Packers vs. Buffalo Bills – LIVE 7:00 PM ET – Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans – LIVE 10:00 PM ET – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Seattle Seahawks – LIVE 1:00 AM ET – Los Angeles Rams vs. Denver Broncos 4:00 AM ET – Baltimore Ravens vs. Washington Football Team Sunday, August 29 7:00 AM ET – Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Houston Texans 10:00 AM ET – Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Jets 1:00 PM ET – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Dallas Cowboys – LIVE 4:00 PM ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. San Francisco 49ers – LIVE 6:00 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. New York Giants – LIVE 12 Midnight ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. San Francisco 49ers 3:00 AM ET – Miami Dolphins vs. Cincinnati Bengals Monday, August 30 3:00 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. New York Giants 9:00 PM ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. San Francisco 49ers 3:00 AM ET – Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints Tuesday, August 31 3:00 PM ET – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Carolina Panthers 9:00 PM ET – Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans 3:00 AM ET – Cleveland Browns vs. Atlanta Falcons Wednesday, September 1 3:00 PM ET – Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs 9:00 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. New York Giants 3:00 AM ET – Los Angeles Rams vs. Denver Broncos Thursday, September 2 3:00 PM ET – Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Houston Texans 9:00 PM ET – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Dallas Cowboys 3:00 AM ET – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Seattle Seahawks Friday, September 3 3:00 PM ET – Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints 9:00 PM ET – Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Jets 3:00 AM ET – Indianapolis Colts vs. Detroit Lions Saturday, September 4 9:00 AM ET – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Dallas Cowboys 12 Midnight ET – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Carolina Panthers 2:30 AM ET – Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Houston Texans 5:00 AM ET – Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Jets Sunday, September 5 7:30 AM ET – Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans 10:00 AM ET – New England Patriots vs. New York Giants 1:00 PM ET – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Dallas Cowboys 8:00 PM ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. San Francisco 49ers 11:00 PM ET – Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs 2:00 AM ET – Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints ***Please note that all live games on NFL Network are subject to local blackouts*** The following broadcast teams will be calling each preseason Week 3 matchup on NFL Network: | Game | Play-by-Play | Analyst | Sideline | | Colts vs. Lions | Brandon Gaudin | Herman Moore | Dannie Rogers | | Steelers vs. Panthers | Taylor Zarzour | Steve Smith Sr. | Kristen Balboni | | Eagles vs. Jets | Ian Eagle | Anthony Becht | Otis Livingston | | Vikings vs. Chiefs | Ari Wolfe | Trent Green | Kay Adams & Matt McMullen | | Packers vs. Bills | Andrew Catalon | Steve Tasker | Cynthia Frelund | | Ravens vs. Washington | Kenny Albert | Joe Theismann | Michael Silver | | Bears vs. Titans | Dan Hellie | Charles Davis | Cory Curtis | | Buccaneers vs. Texans | Kevin Kugler | Spencer Tillman | Drew Dougherty | | Cardinals vs. Saints | Joel Meyers | Jon Stinchcomb & Jon Vilma | Meghan Payton | | Rams vs. Broncos | Steve Levy | Brian Griese | Rod Mackey | | Chargers vs. Seahawks | Curt Menefee | Dave Wyman | N/A | | Jaguars vs. Cowboys | Bill Jones | Babe Laufenberg | Kyle Youmans | | Raiders vs. 49ers | Greg Papa | Tim Ryan | Dennis O'Donnell | | Dolphins vs. Bengals* | Greg Gumbel | Adam Archuleta | AJ Ross | | Patriots vs. Giants | Bob Papa | Carl Banks | Howard Cross & Bruce Beck | | Browns vs. Falcons^ | Al Michaels | Cris Collinsworth | Michele Tafoya |
* - CBS ^ - NBC
For every live preseason game on NFL Network, alternate feeds will be shown in the primary markets of the two competing teams. Here is alternate feed for preseason Week 3 games:
- In Minneapolis and Kansas City markets on Friday, August 27 at 8:00 PM ET – Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Jets – LIVE
| Charlie Yook Named NFL Media Executive Producer | Responsible for Overseeing Los Angeles-Based NFL Media Content Led NFL Network's NFL Draft Coverage from 2014-21 Long-time producer and executive Charlie Yook has been named Executive Producer of NFL Media.
In this role, Yook is responsible for overseeing content produced by the NFL Media Group based in Los Angeles, which includes NFL Network and the NFL's digital properties. Additionally, Yook is responsible for managing the production of NFL Network's studio and on-location event programming. He will report to Mark Quenzel, Senior Vice President, Head of Content.
"We are incredibly excited for Charlie as he takes this next step in his career," said Quenzel. "Throughout the years, Charlie has consistently proven to be a dynamic producer and hands on leader with an incredible attention to detail and an inspired ability to connect teams, departments and platforms to produce amazing content. We are eager to see what this next chapter for the NFL Media Group brings under his leadership."
Yook joined NFL Network in 2006 and has overseen a number of key shows and events during his time with the network. Most recently, Yook led the network's overall production of the NFL Draft, a position he has held since 2014. Yook's involvement with NFL Network's production of the NFL Draft began in 2007.
Additionally, Yook served in a variety of roles on the production side for NFL Network's NFL GameDay Morning from 2009-15. Under his leadership, NFL GameDay Morning – the most comprehensive NFL pregame show on television – earned two Sports Emmy Award nominations in the category of Outstanding Studio Show – Weekly.
Yook's work with NFL Network also includes being an integral part of the re-launch of NFL Network's signature nightly show, NFL Total Access, in 2015.
Prior to joining NFL Network, Yook worked at FOX Sports Net as a show producer.
A Chicago native, Yook graduated from Miami University in 1996 with a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism, and a double-minor in Spanish and Political Science. | NFL TAPS PAUL BALLEW AS CHIEF DATA AND ANALYTICS OFFICER | NEW YORK – Aug. 19, 2021 – Paul Ballew has been named to the position of Chief Data and Analytics Officer of the NFL, effective immediately, it was announced today by Christopher Halpin, NFL Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, to whom he will report. In this role, Ballew will oversee the league's extensive data and analytics operations, ensuring that the NFL's advanced data capture capabilities are leveraged to improve overall fan experiences. This will include providing fans with enhanced content, creating seamless user experiences across NFL platforms and implementing new content delivery methods. In addition, Ballew will lead a team focused on deepening the understanding of the NFL fan base and identifying key drivers of fan engagement across all NFL channels. Utilizing the power of data and analytics, he will also support initiatives to advance player health and safety, and extend those insights into improving health beyond the sport. "We are thrilled to welcome someone with Paul's expertise and track record as our Chief Data and Analytics Officer," said Halpin. "Rich data sets, advanced analytics and data science present transformational opportunities for the League and clubs to better serve our fans, improve our operations, and grow new markets. Paul is the ideal leader to build on our existing platform and realize those opportunities." "I am excited to join the NFL team and look forward to contributing and building on the success of the league through continued innovation using data and analytics," said Ballew. "The NFL already delivers an incredible fan experience and we have the opportunity to use the insights gained from our treasure trove of data to learn, grow, innovate and further enhance their experience as well as the overall operational excellence of the league." Ballew joins the league from Loblaw Companies, where he acted as Chief Data and Analytics Officer and was responsible for establishing the company's data and analytics functions, all data management operations, analytic activities, data science and AI/Machine learning center of excellence. Prior to Loblaw Companies, he oversaw the data and analytics efforts at Ford Motor Company from 2015-2019 where he led a team with responsibility for the company's global data operations, research, analytics and cognitive science activities. Ballew has over two decades of experience in the data and analytics field, and has held several leadership roles prior to Ford Motors Company, including at Dun & Bradstreet, Nationwide and General Motors. | NFL Network Carries Eight Preseason Week 2 Games Live | NFL Network's Preseason Week 2 Live Schedule Kicks Off Thursday, August 19 at 7:30 PM ET Quadruple-Header on Saturday, August 21 Starting at 1:00 PM ET Doubleheader on Sunday, August 22 Starting at 1:00 PM ET NFL Network's live preseason schedule continues with eight Week 2 games starting Thursday, August 19 at 7:30 PM ET when quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles host quarterbacks Cam Newton and Mac Jones and the New England Patriots.
Editions of NFL Total Access air at 7:00 PM ET, during halftime of Patriots-Eagles and at 10:30 PM ET.
NFL Network's preseason Week 2 live schedule continues Friday, August 20 at 8:00 PM ET when rookie wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase and the Cincinnati Bengals travel to face defensive end Chase Young and the Washington Football Team. Editions of NFL Total Access air at 7:00 PM ET, during halftime of Bengals-Washington and at 11:00 PM ET.
On Saturday, August 21, NFL Network airs a quadruple-header of live preseason Week 2 games starting at 1:00 PM ET when rookie quarterback Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears host quarterback Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. NFL Network's quadruple-header continues at 4:30 PM ET when rookie quarterback Zach Wilson and the New York Jets travel to face quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, followed by quarterback Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions facing quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers at 7:30 PM ET. At 10:30 PM ET, NFL Network joins the Las Vegas Raiders-Los Angeles Rams game live in progress. Editions of NFL Total Access air at 12:30 PM ET, during halftime of Bills-Bears, at 4:00 PM ET, and during halftime of Jets-Packers, Lions-Steelers and Raiders-Rams. NFL Network's preseason Week 2 live schedule concludes on Sunday, August 22 with a doubleheader starting at 1:00 PM ET when quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns host quarterback Daniel Jones and the New York Giants. At 7:30 PM ET, rookie quarterback Trey Lance and the San Francisco 49ers travel to face quarterback Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers. Editions of NFL Total Access air at 12:30 PM ET, during halftime of Giants-Browns, at 7:00 PM ET, during halftime of 49ers-Chargers and at 10:30 PM ET.
Live preseason games on NFL Network are subject to blackouts in the local markets of the participating teams.
Additionally, NFL Network re-airs broadcasts of every preseason Week 2 game.
[/Pages/NFL-Network%27s-%27The-Top-100-Players-of-2021%27-Premieres-Sunday,-August-15.aspx]The Top 100 Players of 2021 continues on Sunday, August 22 at 4:00 PM ET following Giants-Browns on NFL Network, revealing players ranked No. 40-11 over the course of three hours. Players ranked No. 100-41 were revealed last week, and the season concludes on Saturday, August 28 at 4:00 PM ET with the Top 10.
All NFL Network programming – including a record 23 LIVE preseason games – is available across multiple devices (smartphone, PC, tablet and connected TVs) through the NFL app and NFL Network app for subscribers of participating NFL Network providers. Visit NFL.com/watch for more information on how to watch.
NFL Game Pass provides fans in the United States access to live out-of-market preseason games, as well as other exclusive content. NFL Game Pass is available at NFL.com/Game-Pass, as well as on Smartphones, Tablets and Connected TVs via the NFL App.
Below is NFL Network's preseason Week 2 broadcast schedule.
NFL NETWORK 2021 PRESEASON WEEK 2 GAMES SCHEDULE
(ALL TIMES EASTERN; LIVE GAMES IN BOLD; ALL GAMES IN HIGH DEFINITION)
Thursday, August 19 7:30 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles – LIVE 11:00 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles 2:00 AM ET – Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals (Preseason Week 1) 4:30 AM ET – New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles Friday, August 20 1:00 PM ET – Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Preseason Week 1) 4:00 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles 8:00 PM ET – Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington Football Team – LIVE 11:30 PM ET – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Arizona Cardinals 2:00 AM ET – Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington Football Team 4:30 AM ET – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Arizona Cardinals Saturday, August 21 7:00 AM ET – New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles 10:00 AM ET – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Arizona Cardinals 1:00 PM ET – Buffalo Bills vs. Chicago Bears – LIVE 4:30 PM ET – New York Jets vs. Green Bay Packers – LIVE 7:30 PM ET – Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers – LIVE 10:30 PM ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Rams – LIVE 1:00 AM ET – Tennessee Titans vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4:00 AM ET – Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins Sunday, August 22 7:00 AM ET – New York Jets vs. Green Bay Packers 10:00 AM ET – Houston Texans vs. Dallas Cowboys 1:00 PM ET – New York Giants vs. Cleveland Browns – LIVE 7:30 PM ET – San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Chargers – LIVE 11:00 PM ET – New York Giants vs. Cleveland Browns 2:00 AM ET – Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks 4:30 AM ET – Indianapolis Colts vs. Minnesota Vikings Monday, August 23 1:00 PM ET – Baltimore Ravens vs. Carolina Panthers 4:00 PM ET – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Arizona Cardinals 8:00 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles 12 Midnight ET – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New Orleans Saints 3:00 AM ET – Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington Football Team Tuesday, August 24 1:00 PM ET – New York Giants vs. Cleveland Browns 4:00 PM ET – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New Orleans Saints 8:00 PM ET – Buffalo Bills vs. Chicago Bears 12 Midnight ET – San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Chargers 3:00 AM ET – Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins Wednesday, August 25 1:00 PM ET – Buffalo Bills vs. Chicago Bears 4:00 PM ET – Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 8:00 PM ET – Houston Texans vs. Dallas Cowboys 12 Midnight ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Rams 3:00 AM ET – Tennessee Titans vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Thursday, August 26 1:00 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles 4:00 PM ET – San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Chargers 8:00 PM ET – New York Jets vs. Green Bay Packers 1:00 AM ET – Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks 4:00 AM ET – Indianapolis Colts vs. Minnesota Vikings Friday, August 27 1:00 PM ET – Houston Texans vs. Dallas Cowboys 4:00 PM ET – New York Jets vs. Green Bay Packers ***Please note that all live games on NFL Network are subject to local blackouts*** The following broadcast teams will be calling each preseason Week 2 matchup on NFL Network: | Game | Play-by-Play | Analyst | Sideline | | Patriots vs. Eagles | Scott Graham | Ross Tucker | Dave Spadero | | Bengals vs. Washington | Kenny Albert | Joe Theismann | Michael Silver | | Chiefs vs. Cardinals* | Steve Levy | Brian Griese & Louis Riddick | Lisa Salters | | Bills vs. Bears | Adam Amin | Jim Miller | Lou Canellis | | Jets vs. Packers | Kevin Harlan | James Lofton | Lance Allen & John Kuhn | | Falcons vs. Dolphins | Steve Goldstein | Jason Taylor | Kim Bokamper | | Ravens vs. Panthers | Taylor Zarzour | Steve Smith Sr. | Kristen Balboni | | Lions vs. Steelers | Bob Pompeani | Charlie Batch | Missi Matthews | | Titans vs. Buccaneers | Chris Myers | Ronde Barber | Dan Lucas | | Texans vs. Cowboys | Bill Jones | Babe Laufenberg & Daryl Johnston | Kyle Youmans | | Colts vs. Vikings | Paul Allen | Pete Bercich | Ben Leber & Greg Coleman | | Raiders vs. Rams | Andrew Siciliano | Mina Kimes & Aqib Talib | Curt Sandoval | | Broncos vs. Seahawks | Curt Menefee | Dave Wyman | N/A | | Giants vs. Browns | Tom McCarthy | Joe Thomas | Nathan Zegura | | 49ers vs. Chargers | Spero Dedes | Dan Fouts | LaDainian Tomlinson | | Jaguars vs. Saints* | Steve Levy | Brian Griese & Louis Riddick | Lisa Salters
|
* - ESPN
For every live preseason game on NFL Network, alternate feeds will be shown in the primary markets of the two competing teams. Here are alternate feeds for preseason Week 2 games:
- In Detroit and Pittsburgh markets on Saturday, August 21 at 7:30 PM ET – Tennessee Titans vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – LIVE
- In Las Vegas and Los Angeles markets on Saturday, August 21 at 10:00 PM ET – Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks – LIVE
| 2021 NFL KICKOFF PRESENTED BY EA SPORTS MADDEN NFL 22 CELEBRATES START OF NFL SEASON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 | SHOW TO FEATURE LIVE PERFORMANCE BY ED SHEERAN
AT JULIAN B. LANE RIVERFRONT PARK NFL Network's GameDay Kickoff airs Thursday, Sept. 9, 3 PM & 6 PM ET NBC Sports' Special Pregame Show airs Thursday, Sept. 9, 7 PM ET on NBC and streams live on Peacock; Simulcast on NFL Network beginning at 7:30PM ET Precedes NFL Kickoff Game:
DALLAS COWBOYS vs. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS on NBC and Peacock NEW YORK [August 16, 2021] – The NFL welcomes fans back for the 2021 season with 2021 NFL KICKOFF PRESENTED BY EA SPORTS MADDEN NFL 22. Four-time GRAMMY award winning singer, songwriter ED SHEERAN will perform live at JULIAN B. LANE RIVERFRONT PARK in Tampa prior to the Cowboys - Buccaneers game at Raymond James Stadium.
To further celebrate the return to football, the 2021 KICKOFF EXPERIENCE PRESENTED BY EA SPORTS MADDEN NFL 22 will take place starting at 12:00 PM ET on Thursday, September 9 at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park. Kickoff Experience is free and open to the public on a first come, first serve basis and the NFL OnePass app is required for admission.
Attractions at 2021 Kickoff Experience will bring fans closer to the NFL through football-themed interactive games and other activities including:
- Appearances by Buccaneers Legends
- Photo ops with the Vince Lombardi Trophy and all 55 Super Bowl rings
- NFL Kickoff Photo Frames
- Bud Light Legends Bar
NFL Network's KIMMI CHEX will host festivities on the Kickoff Experience Stage with guest hosts comedian/actor DESI BANKS and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Team Reporter CASEY PHILLIPS.
Activities on the Kickoff Experience Stage will highlight the local Tampa Bay community with featured appearances by the Florida A&M University Marching Band, Buccaneers cheerleaders, mascot and drumline, local musicians, NFL Legends, and more.
At approximately 7:00 PM ET ED SHEERAN - who recently unveiled "Bad Habits," his first official new release since 2019 - will take the stage for a headline performance. To date, Sheeran has amassed more than 60 billion streams and sold over 50 million albums.
Sheeran's performance will be streamed in full on NFL.com, the NFL app, and on select NFL social media accounts. Portions of the performance will be televised in NBC and NFL Network's pregame show coverage.
Following Ed Sheeran's performance, fans are encouraged to stay for the 2021 NFL KICKOFF WATCH PARTY and view the Cowboys – Buccaneers game live on screens throughout Julian B. Lane Park. Fans are invited to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets to enjoy the game comfortably. Access to the Watch Party is free and open to the public on a first come, first serve basis and the NFL OnePass app is required for admission.
In addition to the live telecast of NFL Kickoff on NBC and livestream on Peacock, the Cowboys – Buccaneers game will be streamed live across all devices via NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports app, NFL.com, and the NFL app. Additionally, fans on mobile devices can stream the game via the Cowboys and Buccaneers mobile properties, Yahoo Sports, and other Verizon Media and NFL properties. Live audio coverage of the game will be broadcast nationally by Westwood One Radio and carried on SiriusXM, TuneIn, and Game Pass. Universo's Spanish language coverage will begin at 8 PM ET.
NBC Sports' Football Night in America team will be live on-site at Raymond James Stadium for pregame coverage beginning at 7 PM ET. AL MICHAELS will call the action alongside CRIS COLLINSWORTH. MICHELE TAFOYA will report from Raymond James Stadium. Three-time Super Bowl referee TERRY MCAULAY is the Sunday Night Football rules analyst. In addition to presenting sponsor EA Sports Madden NFL 22, top-tier sponsors for NFL Kickoff include Bud Light, Microsoft, Pepsi, Pizza Hut, Smirnoff, SNICKERS and Verizon.
On Wednesday, September 8 at 10 PM ET, fans can tune in to "2021 NFL Kickoff Presented by Castrol" on NFL Network. Additionally, editions of "NFL GameDay Kickoff" air on Thursday, September 9 at 3 PM and 6 PM ET on NFL Network, with Emmy-nominated host RICH EISEN, Pro Football Hall of Famers KURT WARNER and MICHAEL IRVIN, former NFL head coach STEVE MARIUCCI, NFL Network Insider IAN RAPOPORT and analytics expert CYNTHIA FRELUND.
Fans can visit NFL.com/2021Kickoff for more details on Kickoff festivities in Tampa and download the NFL OnePass app.
HISTORY OF NFL OPENING KICKOFF EVENTS | DATE | LOCATION | NETWORK | TALENT | GAME | | 9/5/2002 | Times Square, New York | CBS, MTV, VH1 and ESPN | Bon Jovi, Enrique Iglesias, Alicia Keys, Eve, Cast of Broadway musical Rent with Joey Fatone of NSYNC | San Francisco at NY Giants (ESPN) | | 9/4/2003 | The National Mall, Washington, DC | ABC | Aerosmith, Mary J. Blige, Aretha Franklin, Britney Spears, Good Charlotte | NY Jets at Washington (ABC) | | 9/9/2004 | Gillette Stadium, New England/ Metropolitan Park, Jacksonville | ABC | Boston Pops, Mary J. Blige, Destiny's Child, Elton John, Toby Keith, Lenny Kravitz (NE); Jessica Simpson (Jax.) | Indianapolis at New England (ABC) | | 9/8/2005 | Gillette Stadium, New England/ Los Angeles Coliseum, LA/Detroit | ABC | Green Day, Santana, Michelle Branch, Ozzy Osbourne, Trisha Yearwood (NE); Kanye West, Maroon 5, Good Charlotte, Rihanna (LA); Rolling Stones (taped from Detroit) | Oakland at New England (ABC) | | 9/7/2006 | Heinz Field, Pittsburgh/Miami | NBC | Rascal Flatts, Martina McBride (Anthem) (Pitt.); Diddy, Cassie, Yung Joc, Tego Calderon (Miami) | Miami at Pittsburgh (NBC) | | 9/6/2007 | Monument Circle/RCA Dome, Indianapolis | NBC, NFLN | John Mellencamp, Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson, Hinder, Keyshia Cole & Voices of Unity Youth Choir (Anthem) | New Orleans at Indianapolis (NBC) | | 9/4/2008 | Columbus Circle, New York City/Giants Stadium, New Jersey | NFLN, NBC | Natasha Bedingfield, Keith Urban, Usher | Washington at New York Giants (NBC) | | 9/10/2009 | Point State Park/Heinz Field, Pittsburgh | NFLN, NBC | Tim McGraw, The Black Eyed Peas, Harry Connick Jr. (Anthem) | Tennessee at Pittsburgh (NBC) | | 9/9/2010 | Jackson Square (Parade & Concert) /Superdome, New Orleans | NFLN, NBC | Dave Matthews Band, Taylor Swift, Harry Connick Jr., Colbie Caillat (Anthem) | Minnesota at New Orleans (NBC) | | 9/8/2011 | Lambeau Field, Green Bay | NFLN, NBC | Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Maroon 5 | New Orleans at Green Bay (NBC) | | 9/5/2012 | Rockefeller Center, New York / MetLife Stadium, New Jersey | NFLN, NBC | Mariah Carey, No Doubt | Dallas at New York Giants (NBC) | | 9/5/2013 | Baltimore Inner Harbor/ Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver | NFLN, NBC | Keith Urban, Danielle Bradbery (Anthem) | Baltimore at Denver (NBC) | | 9/4/2014 | CenturyLink Field, Seattle | NFLN, NBC | Pharrell Williams, Soundgarden, Ariana Grande (Anthem) | Green Bay at Seattle (NBC) | | 9/10/2015 | Gillette Stadium, New England | NFLN, NBC | Ellie Goulding, Train | Pittsburgh at New England (NBC) | | 9/8/2016 | Civic Center Park, Denver | NFLN, NBC | Dierks Bentley, OneRepublic, Andra Day (Anthem) | Carolina at Denver (NBC) | | 9/7/2017 | Christopher Columbus Park, Boston / Gillette Stadium, New England | NFLN, NBC | Guster, Flo Rida, Maren Morris (Anthem) | Kansas City at New England (NBC) | | 9/6/2018 | Penn's Landing, Philadelphia / Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | NFLN, NBC | Shawn Mendes | Atlanta at Philadelphia (NBC)
| | 9/5/2019 | Grant Park, Chicago / Soldier Field, Chicago | NFLN, NBC | Meghan Trainor, Rhapsody, Meek Mill | Green Bay at Chicago (NBC) | | 9/10/20 | Kansas City / Arrowhead Stadium | NFLN, NBC | Alicia Keys | Houston at Kansas City (NBC) | | 9/9/2021 | Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, Tampa / Raymond James Stadium | NFLN, NBC | Ed Sheeran | Dallas at Tampa Bay (NBC) |
| NFL and AWS Launch AI Challenge to Crowdsource Ways to Automate Player Identification using NFL Game Footage | Challenge is next step in the NFL's Digital Athlete initiative, designed to improve the long-term health and safety of players $100,000 in total prize money available; open through November 2, 2021 New York, August 10, 2021 – The National Football League (NFL) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) today launched a new artificial intelligence challenge to create ways for computers to automatically identify players using NFL game footage. New computer vision models created through the challenge will accelerate the NFL's work with AWS to better understand, and aim to reduce, injuries in the NFL. Prize money totaling $100,000 will be awarded to data scientists with winning models. The contest will be open through November 2, 2021. This challenge is the next step in the NFL's work with AWS to develop the Digital Athlete, a virtual representation of an NFL player that can be used to better predict and hopefully prevent player injury. Last season, the NFL hosted its first computer vision competition, providing computer scientists NFL game data and challenging them to create ways to detect on-field helmet impacts. Nearly 7,800 submissions were received from data scientists around the world. Those solutions are now being used by the NFL and AWS in ongoing work on the Digital Athlete. This challenge builds upon last season's competition by scoring teams based on how accurately they identify players involved in a helmet impact. The NFL will be providing data scientists with the same set of game data to build upon the current models. This competition will advance an already robust machine learning pipeline built on AWS that is working towards being among the most advanced and sophisticated injury surveillance and mitigation programs in professional sports. "This competition is foundational in helping identify each player's risk to injury-causing events, especially when it comes to head health," said Jeff Miller, NFL Executive Vice President overseeing the league's health and safety programs. "We are excited to enlist some of the most talented data scientists from around the world to help develop these solutions and meaningfully advance player safety." "Using AWS's broad range of technologies including machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), the NFL and AWS will generate more new insights than ever previously possible into player injuries, game rules, equipment, rehabilitation, and recovery," said Priya Ponnapalli, Senior Manager, Applied Science, Amazon ML Solutions Lab. "This contest will continue that work and the data and insights collected through this project have the potential to shape the future of football." The Digital Athlete will ultimately help the NFL and its clubs to leverage sports science and injury biomechanics to develop individualized training and recovery regimens, conduct real-time risk analysis for injury during games, and identify and evaluate additional player safety initiatives, including around equipment, rules changes and coaching techniques. To enter the competition, visit https://www.kaggle.com/c/nfl-health-and-safety-helmet-assignment/ for more information about rules and eligibility. | NFL Network Provides Live Coverage of Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend | Saturday, August 7 at 6:30 PM ET – 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony Sunday, August 8 at 7:00 PM ET – 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony
Rich Eisen, Michael Irvin, Kurt Warner & Steve Wyche Anchor NFL Network's Coverage NFL Network provides live coverage of Pro Football Hall of Fame weekend on Saturday, August 7 and Sunday, August 8 as the 2020 and the 2021 classes become enshrined in Canton, Ohio.
On Saturday, August 7, NFL Network's coverage begins at 5:30 PM ET with Hall of Fame Saturday hosted by Rich Eisen, Michael Irvin, Kurt Warner and Steve Wyche, leading up to the 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at 6:30 PM ET hosted by Eisen and Wyche.
The 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class features Steve Atwater, Isaac Bruce, Harold Carmichael, Jimbo Covert, Bill Cowher, Bobby Dillon, Cliff Harris, Winston Hill, Steve Hutchinson, Edgerrin James, Jimmy Johnson, Alex Karras, Troy Polamalu, Steve Sabol, Donnie Shell, Duke Slater, Mac Speedie, Ed Sprinkle, Paul Tagliabue and George Young.
On Sunday, August 8, NFL Network's coverage begins at 6:00 PM ET with Hall of Fame Sunday hosted by Rich Eisen, Michael Irvin, Kurt Warner and Steve Wyche, leading up to the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at 7:00 PM ET hosted by Eisen and Wyche.
The 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class features Alan Faneca, Tom Flores, Calvin Johnson, John Lynch, Peyton Manning, Bill Nunn, Drew Pearson and Charles Woodson.
Live streaming of NFL Network is available across multiple devices (smartphone, PC, tablet and connected TVs) through the NFL app or NFL.com/watch for subscribers of participating NFL Network providers.
Each night, editions of NFL Total Access air following NFL Network's enshrinement ceremony coverage featuring interviews with some of the newly enshrined Hall of Famers.
Digitally, NFL.com provides the following coverage of Hall of Fame weekend:
- Daily news coverage from the Around the NFL team, including What We Learned from the Hall of Fame Game and highlights from the 19 enshrinement speeches
- Nick Shook details the ins-and-outs of a truly unique Hall of Fame weekend
- Adam Rank predicts the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2022
Throughout the week, NFL Network's Inside Training Camp coverage will have a presence in Canton. On Thursday, August 5, Steve Wyche and Michael Irvin host from the field prior to the Hall of Fame Game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys, and on Friday, August 6 Wyche and Jim Trotter provide on-location coverage from Canton throughout the day. Coverage each day starts at 10:00 AM ET.
Inside Training Camp coverage continues on Saturday, August 7 and Sunday, August 8 starting at 1:00 PM ET each day.
For further details, please visit @NFLMedia.
| 'Training Camp Back Together Saturday' Airs Saturday, July 31 on NFL Network | 13 Hours of LIVE Coverage Beginning at 9:00 AM ET 40+ On-Air Talent Provide On-Location Coverage of All 32 NFL Teams On Saturday, July 31, all 32 NFL teams will hold practice with club-led fan events for the first time ever for Back Together Saturday – a new, major tentpole NFL event.
Starting at 9:00 AM ET, NFL Network provides 13 hours of LIVE Training Camp: Back Together Saturday Fueled by Gatorade coverage with 40+ on-air talent as all 32 NFL teams hit the field.
Provided below is a team-by-team breakdown of NFL Network's Training Camp: Back Together Saturday on-location coverage:
- Arizona Cardinals – Kurt Warner & Peter Schrager
- Atlanta Falcons – Steve Wyche
- Baltimore Ravens – Mike Garafolo & Garrett Downing (On-Air Host)
- Buffalo Bills – Kim Jones
- Carolina Panthers – Patrick Claybon & Charles Davis
- Chicago Bears – Stacey Dales
- Cincinnati Bengals – Marc Ross & Marisa Contipelli (Team Reporter/Video Producer)
- Cleveland Browns – Bucky Brooks & Nathan Zegura (Senior Media Broadcaster)
- Dallas Cowboys (Oxnard) – Chris Rose, Michael Irvin & Jane Slater
- Denver Broncos – James Palmer
- Detroit Lions – Taylor Bisciotti
- Green Bay Packers – Kay Adams & James Jones
- Houston Texans – Deepi Sidhu (Texans Insider)
- Indianapolis Colts – Larra Overton (Team Reporter)
- Jacksonville Jaguars – Scott Hanson & Brian Baldinger
- Kansas City Chiefs – Jeffri Chadiha
- Las Vegas Raiders – Omar Ruiz & David Carr
- Los Angeles Chargers – Matt "Money" Smith & Daniel Jeremiah
- Los Angeles Rams – Rhett Lewis, Maurice Jones-Drew & Cynthia Frelund
- Miami Dolphins – Sara Walsh
- Minnesota Vikings – Tom Pelissero & Gabe Henderson (Team Reporter)
- New England Patriots – Mike Giardi
- New Orleans Saints – Kimmi Chex & Jim Trotter
- New York Giants – MJ Acosta-Ruiz, Shaun O'Hara & Madelyn Burke (Team Reporter)
- New York Jets – Judy Battista
- Philadelphia Eagles – Colleen Wolfe, Ian Rapoport & Dave Spadaro (Eagles Insider)
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Aditi Kinkhabwala
- San Francisco 49ers – Steve Mariucci & Keiana Martin (Senior Reporter)
- Seattle Seahawks – Jen Mueller (Sideline Reporter)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Andrew Siciliano & Willie McGinest
- Tennessee Titans – LaDainian Tomlinson & Amie Wells (Broadcasting Manager)
- Washington Football Team – DeAngelo Hall & Julie Donaldson (Senior Vice President of Media)
[/Pages/NFL-Network%27s-Extensive-%27Inside-Training-Camp%27-Coverage-Kicks-off-Monday,-July-26.aspx]NFL Network's Inside Training Camp airs through Wednesday, August 11 providing eight hours of live coverage beginning each day at 10:00 AM ET. Visit @NFLMedia for further details.
| NFL Network's 'The Top 100 Players of 2021' Premieres Sunday, August 15 | 'The Top 100 Players of 2021' Airs During Three Consecutive Weekends Top 10 Revealed Saturday, August 28 at 4:00 PM ET, Followed by 'The Top 100 Players of 2021 Reaction Show' at 6:00 PM ET List Determined Solely by Current NFL Players for 11th Consecutive Year For the 11th consecutive year, current NFL players have voted to determine the Top 100 players in the NFL.
Premiering Sunday, August 15, The Top 100 Players of 2021 counts down the top players in the NFL as determined solely by the players themselves.
This season, The Top 100 Players of 2021 airs during three consecutive weekends in August immediately following [/Pages/NFL-Network-to-Carry-Record-23-Live-Preseason-Games.aspx]live preseason games on NFL Network, beginning Sunday, August 15 with No. 100-41 revealed over the course of six hours starting at 4:00 PM ET. The countdown continues on Sunday, August 22 at 4:00 PM ET with No. 40-11 revealed over the course of three hours, and concludes with a two-hour finale on Saturday, August 28 at 4:00 PM ET revealing the top 10 players. At 6:00 PM ET, The Top 100 Players of 2021 Reaction Show airs, recapping this year's edition of the series.
Throughout The Top 100 Players of 2021, the Around the NFL team will provide reaction pieces and analysis on this year's selections. Additional NFL.com coverage includes:
- Top 10 lists that align with each episode's player reveals:
- Brian Baldinger's Top 10 players from the 2017 NFL Draft class
- Gil Brandt's Top 10 cornerback tandems
- DeAngelo Hall's Top 10 safeties
- Maurice Jones-Drew's Top 10 players 25 or younger
- Willie McGinest's Top 10 linebackers
- Shaun O'Hara's Top 10 undrafted players
- Adam Schein's ranking of the Top 100's Top 10
- Steve Smith Sr.'s Top 10 red-zone threats
- Joe Thomas' Top 10 offensive tackles
- Jeremy Bergman identifies five things the players got wrong
- NFL.com analysts debate who is the biggest Top 10 snub
Live streaming of NFL Network is available across multiple devices (smartphone, PC, tablet and connected TVs) through the NFL app or NFL.com/watch for subscribers of participating NFL Network providers.
The Top 100 Players of 2021 Episode Schedule Sunday, August 15 No. 100-41 4:00 PM ET Sunday, August 22 No. 40-11 4:00 PM ET Saturday, August 28 No. 10-1 4:00 PM ET Saturday, August 28 Reaction Show 6:00 PM ET | NFL Media Announces Hiring of Vice Presidents Angela Ellis, Sandy Nunez and Tony Cole | Angela Ellis Joins as Vice President, Head of Entertainment & Initiatives Sandy Nunez Joins as Vice President, Talent Management Tony Cole Joins as Vice President, Media Operations NFL Media – comprised of NFL Network, NFL Films, NFL.com, the NFL app and NFL RedZone – announced the hires of three new Vice Presidents Angela Ellis, Sandy Nunez and Tony Cole today.
Angela joins NFL Media as Vice President, Head of Entertainment and Initiatives, and reports to David Jurenka, Senior Vice President NFL Media and General Manager, Los Angeles. In her role, Angela leads a newly formed department focused on entertainment and League initiatives surrounding tentpole events such as Super Bowl, Kickoff and the NFL Draft. Additionally, Angela provides vision and leadership through development and execution to deliver best-in-class content, directs the production of content for League initiatives on all NFL and partner platforms, and works closely with several departments such as Events, Football Operations, Marketing, Social Responsibility, Business Development, Sponsorship, International and Communications.
Prior to joining NFL Media, Angela was most recently part of the leadership team that restructured Season 2 of Disney's Emmy-winning syndicated daytime talk show, The Tamron Hall Show. Before joining the show, Angela spent 10 years producing high-profile national and international stories for ABC News, elevating to Executive Broadcast Producer for Good Morning America in 2017 and winning the Emmy for Outstanding Morning Show for two consecutive years. In 2019, Angela founded TALENT/ED, which provides coaching and training programs for early and mid-career women and people of color in media, as well as consulting on editorial and content development for media companies. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master of Science in Journalism from Columbia University. She also studied International Politics at St. John's University in Rome and is fluent in Italian.
Sandy joins NFL Media as Vice President, Talent Management and reports to Mark Quenzel, Senior Vice President, Head of Content. In her role, Sandy leads NFL Media's talent department, providing daily oversight for the media group's on-air personalities and identifying, recruiting and developing top-tier talent. Additionally, Sandy partners with NFL Media's senior production team and show runners, contributing to content development across all platforms.
Prior to joining NFL Media, Sandy spent 12 years with ESPN as the Head of Production for the network's Los Angeles office, supporting the channel's talent and major influencers. She joined ESPN after spending almost 10 years as a Producer for ABC News, covering domestic and international events. A proven leader with a reputation of delivering creativity, strategic planning and personalized coaching to her team, Sandy was named a "Woman of Inspiration" by WISE Los Angeles, one of "The 30 Most Influential Hispanics in Sports" by Sports Illustrated, and one of "Los Angeles Most Influential Latina Journalists" by the California Chicano News Media Association (CCNMA). Sandy attended the University of California, Los Angeles where she studied Political Science and Government.
Tony joins NFL Media as Vice President, Media Operations and reports to Dave Shaw, Vice President, Head of Media Operations. In his role, Tony is accountable for the 24/7 management of technical operations of all NFL Media studio content produced on-site at the new facility in Inglewood, as well as the planning and execution of studio workflows and the proactive monitoring of on-going maintenance and care of NFL Media's facility. Additionally, Tony drives the strategic leadership, direction and development of NFL Media's studio operations.
Prior to joining NFL Media, Tony spent nearly eight years at Piksel Corporation, most recently serving as Senior Vice President – Global Business Development in which he maximized global partnerships to deliver a broad range of innovative video solutions across the media and entertainment industries. Tony's previous work includes 20 years with ABC TV Network, most recently serving as Vice President – Broadcast Operations and Engineering, West Coast, and Vice President – Engineering for Discovery Communications for nearly five years prior to his time at ABC. He graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.
| NFL Network to Carry Record 23 Live Preseason Games | Live Preseason Games on NFL Network Include Debuts of 2021 First-Round QBs Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields & Mac Jones Quadruple-Header of Week 1 & Week 2 Preseason Games Two Triple-Headers of Week 3 Preseason Games Only Network to Show Every Preseason Game NFL Network remains the only network to show the entire slate of 2021 NFL preseason games, highlighted by a record 23 live games.
NFL Network's live preseason schedule kicks off with eight Week 1 games starting Thursday, August 12 at 7:30 PM ET with rookie quarterback Mac Jones' debut for the New England Patriots against the Washington Football Team. Week 1 preseason coverage continues Friday, August 13 with the Buffalo Bills at the Detroit Lions at 7:00 PM ET, followed by the Dallas Cowboys at the Arizona Cardinals at 10:00 PM ET.
On Saturday, August 14, NFL Network carries a quadruple-header of live Week 1 preseason games, starting at 1:00 PM ET with rookie quarterback Justin Fields' debut for the Chicago Bears against the Miami Dolphins. Saturday's schedule continues at 4:00 PM ET with the Minnesota Vikings hosting the Denver Broncos, followed by No. 1 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft Trevor Lawrence's debut with the Jacksonville Jaguars against former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns at 7:00 PM ET. The final game airs at 10:00 PM ET with the Los Angeles Rams hosting the Los Angeles Chargers, marking the first game with fans in attendance at SoFi Stadium – site of Super Bowl LVI.
NFL Network's Week 1 preseason live schedule concludes Sunday, August 15 at 1:00 PM ET with the Carolina Panthers visiting the Indianapolis Colts.
NFL Network's live preseason schedule continues with eight Week 2 games, starting Thursday, August 19 with the Philadelphia Eagles hosting the New England Patriots at 7:30 PM ET, and continuing Friday, August 20 with the Cincinnati Bengals traveling to face the Washington Football Team at 8:00 PM ET.
On Saturday, August 21, NFL Network carries a quadruple-header of Week 2 preseason games, starting at 1:00 PM ET with the Buffalo Bills traveling to face the Chicago Bears. Saturday's quadruple-header continues with the New York Jets at the Green Bay Packers at 4:25 PM ET, the Detroit Lions at the Pittsburgh Steelers at 7:30 PM ET and the Las Vegas Raiders at the Los Angeles Rams at 10:00 PM ET.
NFL Network's Week 2 preseason live schedule concludes Sunday, August 22 with a double-header starting at 1:00 PM ET with the Cleveland Browns hosting the New York Giants and the Los Angeles Chargers hosting the San Francisco 49ers at 7:30 PM ET.
NFL Network's live preseason schedule concludes with seven Week 3 games, highlighted by two triple-headers. The first triple-header kicks off Saturday, August 28 at 1:00 PM ET with the Buffalo Bills hosting the Green Bay Packers, followed by the Chicago Bears at the Tennessee Titans at 7:00 PM ET and the Los Angeles Chargers at the Seattle Seahawks at 10:00 PM ET.
On Sunday, August 29, NFL Network's triple-header starts at 1:00 PM ET with the Jacksonville Jaguars traveling to face the Dallas Cowboys, followed by the Las Vegas Raiders at the San Francisco 49ers at 4:00 PM ET and the New England Patriots at the New York Giants at 6:00 PM ET.
NFL Network's live Week 3 preseason schedule begins Friday, August 27 with the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Minnesota Vikings at 8:00 PM ET.
Live preseason games on NFL Network are subject to blackouts in the local markets of the participating teams.
Live streaming of NFL Network is available across multiple devices (smartphone, PC, tablet and connected TVs) through the NFL app or NFL.com/watch for subscribers of participating NFL Network providers.
NFL Network's 2021 Live Preseason Schedule Week 1 Thursday, August 12 7:30 PM ET – Washington Football Team vs. New England Patriots Friday, August 13 7:00 PM ET – Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions 10:00 PM ET – Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals Saturday, August 14 1:00 PM ET – Miami Dolphins vs. Chicago Bears 4:00 PM ET – Denver Broncos vs. Minnesota Vikings 7:00 PM ET – Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars 10:00 PM ET – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Los Angeles Rams Sunday, August 15 1:00 PM ET – Carolina Panthers vs. Indianapolis Colts Week 2 Thursday, August 19 7:30 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles Friday, August 20 8:00 PM ET – Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington Football Team Saturday, August 21 1:00 PM ET – Buffalo Bills vs. Chicago Bears 4:25 PM ET – New York Jets vs. Green Bay Packers 7:30 PM ET – Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 10:00 PM ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Rams Sunday, August 22 1:00 PM ET – New York Giants vs. Cleveland Browns 7:30 PM ET – San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Chargers Week 3 Friday, August 27 8:00 PM ET – Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs Saturday, August 28 1:00 PM ET – Green Bay Packers vs. Buffalo Bills 7:00 PM ET – Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans 10:00 PM ET – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Seattle Seahawks Sunday, August 29 1:00 PM ET – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Dallas Cowboys 4:00 PM ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. San Francisco 49ers 6:00 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. New York Giants *Live games on NFL Network will be blacked out in the participating teams' over-the-air station markets.
| NFL’s SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD AWARDS $4 MILLION IN RESEARCH FUNDING ON HAMSTRING INJURIES | NFL's SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD AWARDS $4 MILLION IN RESEARCH FUNDING ON HAMSTRING INJURIES Researchers from the University of Wisconsin to conduct an innovative prospective study with a goal of reducing the incidence of hamstring injuries in football players July 15, 2021– The National Football League's (NFL) Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) today announced a four-year, $4 million award to fund a team of medical researchers led by the University of Wisconsin. The study will investigate the prevention and treatment of hamstring injuries for elite football players. Hamstring injuries are the most common injuries suffered by NFL players and are the second-most burdensome injury in the league, with nearly 75% of such injuries resulting in missed time for NFL players.
This award is part of the league's multi-year effort to better understand and prevent lower extremity injuries, including soft tissue strains such as hamstrings. The findings from this project aim to determine an individual NFL athlete's propensity for hamstring strain injury and identify targets for injury mitigation, potentially reducing the injury burden on the player.
In addition to funding medical research, the league is following a data-driven approach to attempt to reduce the incidence of lower extremity injuries by tracking and analyzing turf systems and cleat performance, evaluating injuries to determine how to improve training regimens, and partnering with NFL Medical committees to study knee ligament injuries.
Researchers will combine state-of-the-art quantitative imaging, on-field biomechanics, and computational analytics to determine risk factors associated with initial and recurrent hamstring injuries and develop data-driven approaches to help individualize risk assessment. In addition, the study will aim to provide a roadmap for future research involving orthobiologics as a treatment for muscle strain injuries. Research will be led by Bryan Heiderscheit, PT, PhD, University of Wisconsin Orthopedics and Badger Athletic Performance, in partnership with David Opar, PhD, Australian Catholic University SPRINT Centre, and Silvia Blemker, PhD, co-founder of Springbok Analytics.
"At the league, we recognize the significant burden hamstring injuries have on our elite athletes year after year, and have dedicated resources to analyzing the occurrence and type of lower extremity injuries to better identify ways we can further reduce them," said Dr. Allen Sills, NFL Chief Medical Officer. "We're hopeful that through the data-based approach outlined by Dr. Heiderscheit and his team, this funding will enable them to develop scientifically-based strategies that will advance the health and safety of our players in the years to come."
"The persistent symptoms, slow healing, and a high rate of re-injury make hamstring strains a frustrating and disabling injury for athletes and a challenge for sport medicine clinicians to treat," said Dr. Bryan Heiderscheit, PT, PhD, FAPTA, Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin-Madison. "To truly understand and reduce hamstring injury risk requires a study of an unprecedented size and scope. Thanks to the commitment and funding support provided by the NFL, our multi-disciplinary team of researchers can now undertake an innovative, data-driven approach to this study, and assist sports medicine clinicians in advancing strategies for injury prevention and interventions to return athletes to sport quickly and with reduced risk for re-injury."
This award concludes the Request for Proposals process initiated by the SAB in September 2020. It is the second round of medical research funding awarded by the SAB, founded in 2016 and chaired by Peter Chiarelli, U.S. Army General (Retired). Gen. Chiarelli formed a board of leading independent researchers, experts, doctors, scientists and clinicians to develop and lead a clear process to identify and support compelling proposals for $40 million in scientific research funded by the NFL. In 2018, following the recommendation of the SAB, the NFL awarded a total of $35 million to five projects for medical research primarily dedicated to neuroscience. To learn more about the NFL's Scientific Advisory Board, click here.
| National Football League and Twitter Extend Partnership Through Multi-Year Deal | Partnership to Deliver New Audio Feature -- Twitter Spaces and the Games' Biggest Highlights New York (July 8, 2021) – The National Football League (NFL) and Twitter announced today a multi-year partnership extension which will include expanded engagement formats and a full-season commitment to produce exclusive content on Twitter Spaces, Twitter's new live audio feature. Twitter will also continue to be a home for the games' biggest moments -- all the touchdowns, leaping catches, incredible runs, and celebrations after they happen, from season Kickoff to Super Bowl. With more than 20 Spaces planned for the upcoming 2021 NFL season, the NFL is the first sports league to partner with Twitter to offer sponsored Twitter Spaces, giving both brands and fans new opportunities to connect and engage with live NFL audio. The NFL's Twitter Spaces will be available throughout the season, as well as in conjunction with NFL tentpole events including Kickoff, Super Bowl, the NFL Draft and more. The Spaces will include participation from current NFL players and other NFL talent to discuss season matchups and insights. The partnership will continue to engage fans each week of the season through: - New Highlight Offerings – Curated videos featuring recaps of the best touchdowns, highlights and Tweets each week of the season with first-of-its-kind opportunities for brands.
- Expanded NFL Twitter Votes – Fans will be invited to vote each week on the hottest topics and takes burning through the NFL Twittersphere in an expanded set of Twitter Polls.
- Providing Fans the Best Moments from Every Game – The NFL and its Clubs will bring the best moments from every game to the #NFLTwitter community through highlights, and on-field coverage and Twitter Moments.
"The commitment to Twitter Spaces represents another innovative step forward in the longstanding partnership between the NFL and Twitter," said Blake Stuchin, Vice President, Digital Media Business Development, NFL. "We're excited to bring NFL fans a new way to engage with live audio ahead of our biggest events of the year and every week throughout the NFL season."
"We're excited to super-serve NFL fans with even more of what they love to see on Twitter, including epic touchdown highlights all season long," said TJ Adeshola, Head of US Sports Partnerships, Twitter. "In addition to fueling the timeline with the best moments from each game in real time, we'll be doubling down on innovation by leveraging our live audio format, 'Spaces', to bring fans even closer to the game."
Since announcing their first partnership agreement in 2013, the NFL has developed live programming and distributed on-demand content that takes advantage of Twitter's unique features to appeal to its highly engaged audience.
| HBO Sports and NFL Films Focus on One of the Most Iconic Franchises in All of Sports in Hard Knocks Dallas Cowboys | THE 20th ANNIVERSARY SEASON OF THE GROUNDBREAKING SPORTS REALITY SERIES, DEBUTING AUGUST 10 ON HBO
HBO Sports and NFL Films are partnering with "America's Team", the Dallas Cowboys, for an unfiltered all-access look at what it takes to make it in the National Football League in HARD KNOCKS: THE DALLAS COWBOYS. This season's five-episode series chronicles training camp with the five-time Super Bowl champion NFC East franchise and debuts TUESDAY, AUG. 10 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET). Other hour-long episodes of the first sports-based reality series – and one of the fastest-turnaround programs on TV – debut subsequent Tuesdays at the same time, culminating in the Sept. 7 season finale.
HARD KNOCKS will have encore plays Wednesday nights and will be available on HBO and to stream on HBO Max. HARD KNOCKS: THE DALLAS COWBOYS will mark the 16th edition of the 18-time Sports Emmy® Award-winning series and the most acclaimed serialized sports series on television.
"We are thrilled that Hard Knocks will be returning this summer and excited for our return to the NFC East and the Dallas Cowboys franchise," says Jonathan Crystal, Vice President, HBO Sports. "We are beyond grateful to the Cowboys for opening up their doors and allowing HBO and NFL Films to spend the summer with one of the sport's world's truly iconic franchises as they prepare for the upcoming season."
Camera crews will head to the Cowboys' training camp in Oxnard, California in the next few weeks to begin filming, with the action heating up in August when the cinema verité show focuses on the daily lives and routines of players and coaches. This season of HARD KNOCKS marks the Cowboys' third time on the show having previously been featured in 2002 and 2008. HARD KNOCKS: THE DALLAS COWBOYS will be narrated by Liev Schreiber, marking his 15th season with the show.
"The Cowboys are one of the most storied franchises in NFL history and a team that elicits strong reactions from fans around the world," said Ken Rodgers, Vice President, Senior Coordinating Producer at NFL Films. "Tens of millions of fans love them, but just as many people love to hate them. Either way, when the Cowboys show up people watch, which makes them perfect for Hard Knocks. This year, their high-profile status as "America's Team" is paired with uniquely interesting storylines. We can't thank Mr. Jones and Coach McCarthy enough for letting us tell the story behind what we hope is the beginning of an exciting year in Dallas."
The Cowboys enter the 2021 NFL season looking to improve upon last year's third-place finish in the NFC East. In the second year under head coach Mike McCarthy, the Cowboys look forward to having franchise quarterback Dak Prescott back under center to lead Dallas' high-powered offense which features the likes of running back Ezekiel Elliott, and wide receivers Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb. Defensively, new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn leads an impressive group which features Demarcus Lawrence, Jaylon Smith and first-round pick Micah Parsons.
A 30-person NFL Films crew will be at Cowboys' training camp in Oxnard, shooting more than 1,750 hours of footage over the course of the series. Camera and sound crews will have unencumbered access to players' and coaches' meeting rooms, training rooms, living quarters and practice fields.
HBO has aired 77 memorable episodes and one anniversary special in its first 15 seasons. No other sports reality series can match the production excellence, critical acclaim, awards and audience numbers posted by HARD KNOCKS. Episodes have averaged 3.7 million viewers over the past five years.
Winner of 18 Sports Emmy® Awards to date, HARD KNOCKS launched with the Baltimore Ravens in 2001, followed by the Dallas Cowboys in 2002, and resumed in 2007 with the Kansas City Chiefs, subsequently spotlighting the Cowboys (2008), Cincinnati Bengals (2009), New York Jets (2010), Miami Dolphins (2012), Bengals (2013), Atlanta Falcons (2014), Houston Texans (2015) and Los Angeles Rams (2016). The 2017 edition chronicled the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and captured the Sports Emmy® for Outstanding Serialized Documentary. The widely acclaimed 2018 series with the Cleveland Browns earned two Sports Emmy® Awards for production excellence. The 2019 series spotlighted the Oakland Raiders as they played their final season in the Bay area before moving the franchise to Las Vegas. In an unprecedented programming move, the 2020 edition of the venerable series spotlighted both Los Angeles NFL teams: The Los Angeles Chargers and the Los Angeles Rams.
Ten of the last twelve teams featured on HARD KNOCKS have equaled or improved their win-loss record in the regular season. The Cleveland Browns launched the transformation of their organization on HBO and went from a winless 2017 season to coming within half a game (7-8-1) of a .500 campaign. The 2019 season saw the Raiders improve their record to 7-9 from the previous year's 4-12 mark. Both Los Angeles' teams, Rams and Chargers, improved their records in 2020 with two more wins from the previous year; with the Rams making the playoffs.
The Washington Post wrote, "Turning football players into people is what HBO's HARD KNOCKS series does so well. The massive scope, meticulous editing and time-hopping special effects that highlight a production under massive time constraints are all impressive, but it's the film crew's access to NFL players that makes the program special." NFL.com stated, "There are myriad reasons why HARD KNOCKS remains one of the best shows on television; it's ability to show us the human side of cutdown weekend is near the top," while USA TODAY wrote, "Players' lives and their hopes and dreams play out each NFL preseason on HARD KNOCKS. It's that month-long human drama that makes the show so profoundly compelling."
Winner of 133 Sports Emmy® Awards, NFL Films remains a gold standard in sports television, providing unprecedented access to and legendary storytelling about the sport of professional football. NFL Films is a part of NFL Media, the owned and operated media division of the National Football League, which is comprised of NFL Network, NFL Films, the NFL App, NFL.com and NFL RedZone. | NFL ANNOUNCES OUTCOME OF WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM WORKPLACE REVIEW | The National Football League today announced the outcome of the workplace review of the Washington Football Team led by independent counsel Beth Wilkinson, as well as remedial measures and penalties arising out of that review. Wilkinson's firm ("Wilkinson") was initially engaged by the Washington club in July 2020. At the club's request, the league office assumed oversight of her work a short time later, just prior to the start of the 2020 season. Her assignment was to conduct a thorough and independent investigation into allegations of a hostile workplace culture at the club, including allegations of bullying and harassment, and to make recommendations regarding any remedial measures the club should take in light of her findings. Wilkinson was not specifically tasked with confirming or rejecting any particular allegation of inappropriate conduct. Throughout her engagement, Wilkinson communicated with the league office on a regular and ongoing basis. Wilkinson interviewed more than 150 people, most of whom were current or former employees of the club, and many of whom conditioned their participation on a promise of anonymity. She interviewed owner Dan Snyder twice. Dan Snyder and the club released current and former employees from any confidentiality obligations for purposes of speaking with Wilkinson and pledged that there would be no retaliation against any current or former employee who did so. Washington Football Team president Jason Wright emphasized this commitment and encouraged employees to cooperate and speak with Wilkinson. Commissioner Goodell said: "I want to thank Beth Wilkinson and her team for conducting a thorough and independent review of the Washington club's workplace culture and conduct and providing both the club and me with a series of thoughtful recommendations based on her findings. Beth and her team performed their work in a highly professional and ethical manner. Most importantly, I want to thank the current and former employees who spoke to Beth and her team; they provided vital information that will help ensure that the workplace environment at the club continues to improve. It is incredibly difficult to relive painful memories. I am grateful to everyone who courageously came forward." Based on Wilkinson's review, the Commissioner concluded that for many years the workplace environment at the Washington Football Team, both generally and particularly for women, was highly unprofessional. Bullying and intimidation frequently took place and many described the culture as one of fear, and numerous female employees reported having experienced sexual harassment and a general lack of respect in the workplace. Ownership and senior management paid little or no attention to these issues. In some instances, senior executives engaged in inappropriate conduct themselves, including use of demeaning language and public embarrassment. This set the tone for the organization and led to key executives believing that disrespectful behavior and more serious misconduct was acceptable in the workplace. The problems were compounded by inadequate HR staff and practices and the absence of an effectively and consistently administered process for reporting or addressing employee complaints, as well as a widely reported fear of retaliation. When reports were made, they were generally not investigated and led to no meaningful discipline or other response.
Dan Snyder has acknowledged that, as the club's owner, he is responsible for the culture. Owners are obligated to set an appropriate tone and establish appropriate standards, develop and implement appropriate policies, including a policy of non-retaliation, ensure that there is proper training, compliance, and recordkeeping, invest in employee-related systems and infrastructure, and instill an ethic of respect at the club. This did not occur at the Washington club for far too long, and Dan Snyder has acknowledged his personal responsibility for that failure. Beginning near the end of the 2019 season, Dan and Tanya Snyder made a series of significant organizational changes based on his recognition that the club's workplace culture, initially on the football side but then more broadly, was deficient and needed to be significantly improved to enable football and other club employees to perform at their full potential. These steps included the hiring of Head Coach Ron Rivera and the decision to replace a number of top club executives. Additional and more widespread changes have been made over the past year, and Wilkinson's review identified several strong and positive steps taken by ownership over the past year to improve workplace conduct and culture in Washington. None of the managers or executives identified as having engaged in misconduct is still employed at the club. In place of the prior leadership group, the Snyders have hired a new, highly qualified and diverse team of executives on both the football and business sides of the club. These include club president Jason Wright, Chief HR Officer Andre Chambers, General Counsel Damon Jones, Chief Financial Officer Greg Rush, Senior Vice President of External Engagement and Communication Julie Jensen, and Senior Vice President of Media and Content Julie Donaldson, as well as Coach Rivera and General Manager Martin Mayhew. Overall, the new executive team shows an impressive commitment to diversity, with a substantial number of women and people of color in leadership roles. This leadership team appears to be both respected within the community and genuinely committed to changing the workplace environment and is doing so with the full support of the Snyders. In addition, the cheerleader program is now under the leadership of Petra Pope, who has replaced the all-female squad with what Pope has described as "an inclusive, co-ed, diverse, athletic" dance team that will no longer pose for calendars. Apart from hiring a new leadership team, the club has also implemented strong and state-of-the-art policies and protocols regarding workplace conduct, reporting, and non-retaliation and has also moved to institute comprehensive training. The club has retained outside resources to assist in this effort and has given its assurance that these consultants will remain engaged on an ongoing basis and will be available to discuss their work with the league office. Commissioner Goodell stated: "Over the past 18 months, Dan and Tanya have recognized the need for change and have undertaken important steps to make the workplace comfortable and dignified for all employees, and those changes, if sustained and built upon, should allow the club to achieve its goal of having a truly first-tier workplace. I truly appreciate their commitment to fully implement each of the below ten recommendations, but the league also must ensure accountability for past deficiencies and for living up to current and future commitments." Wilkinson made several specific recommendations, which are set forth below, regarding actions that the club should take to further improve and sustain the workplace culture improvements made over the past year. Dan and Tanya have agreed to implement each of these ten (10) recommendations. The club has made considerable progress over the last 18 months in implementing these recommendations and will be required to implement each of them. The specific recommendations are: - Protocols for Reporting Harassment: Develop a formal protocol for reporting allegations of harassment and misconduct that allows victims to report anonymously and without fear of retaliation. Ensure that this protocol is communicated to all employees via the club's employee handbook and in other ways. Engage a third party to monitor a confidential hotline/secure email site to receive workplace misconduct reports.
- Disciplinary Action Plan: Develop a formal disciplinary action plan with clear protocols and processes for documenting, evaluating, and adjudicating misconduct. Apply those protocols and processes consistently in a prompt and proportionate manner across the organization. This includes holding executives and other supervisors accountable for addressing misconduct in the organization, including by requiring that supervisory level employees formally report any misconduct of which they become aware and disciplining the failure to report such misconduct.
- Regular Culture Surveys: Conduct regular, anonymized workplace culture and sexual harassment climate surveys to track the Club's progress in addressing these issues.
- Regular Trainings: Engage an independent and professional third party to provide regular training for all employees on bullying, sexual and other forms of harassment, diversity and inclusion, and other issues of workplace conduct. Provide special training for managers and supervisors on how to recognize and handle harassment and reports of harassment. Review the proposed training program with the League office and incorporate recommendations.
- More Diverse Workforce: Increase the number of women and minorities throughout the organization, particularly in leadership and supervisory positions that have decision-making authority.
- Establish Clear Lines of Authority: Implement clear organizational structure and clear lines of authority for club executives to eliminate influence of informal or unaffiliated advisors on the Club's business operations.
- Expand and Empower HR and Legal: Expand and empower the in-house HR and Legal Departments, particularly with respect to their ability to investigate and address allegations of misconduct at all levels, without interference from club executives.
- Develop Formal Onboarding, Performance Management and Compensation System, and Exit Interview Process: Implement a formal onboarding process for new hires, a program of regular performance and compensation reviews, and an exit interview or debriefing process for departures.
- Protecting Cheerleading Team: Ensure cheerleaders (if a program is retained, either in its earlier form or in the form of a new, co-ed Dance Team) have access to HR and other organizational resources, including by assigning an HR employee to the cheerleading squad. Confirm that the Team's processes and trainings described above apply to and are clearly communicated to the cheerleaders.
- Regular Assessment of Policies: Require the Club to retain an independent professional consultant selected by the Team and approved by the league office to conduct an annual assessment of all employment policies to ensure they are both consistent with best practices and being implemented in practice. The league office will have full access to the consultant.
Having considered Wilkinson's findings and other information brought to his attention, the Commissioner has decided that, in addition to paying all fees and expenses associated with Wilkinson's investigation, the club will pay $10 million, which will be used to support organizations committed to character education, anti-bullying, healthy relationships and related topics. They will also fund programs directed more broadly at improving the workplace, particularly for women and other underrepresented groups, and training and development programs throughout the league, with recipients identified with the assistance of respected third-party advisors. We will solicit recommendations from the club, particularly for organizations based in the Washington metropolitan area. In addition, to ensure that the club's recent workplace conduct and culture improvements are sustained and that its stated commitment to progress is realized, the club shall have the following semi-annual reporting obligations through July 31, 2023: Report to the league office, through an independent third party selected by the club and approved by the league office, on: - the club's progress in implementing each of Wilkinson's workplace recommendations, with the first report due by July 31, 2021;
- the results of the culture and other surveys recommended; and
- all complaints, including those made at exit interviews or post-employment, that reasonably present workplace-related issues of bullying, discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, or retaliation, whether made anonymously or by an identified party, as well as how the club addressed those complaints. Based on these semi-annual reports, the league office will be permitted to conduct follow-up inquiries with any workplace consultants the club has engaged.
Any material failure to implement these recommendations or to otherwise comply fully with these obligations and the commitments may result in an extension of the reporting period or other discipline. As co-CEO, Tanya Snyder will assume responsibilities for all day-to-day team operations and represent the club at all league meetings and other league activities for at least the next several months. Dan Snyder will concentrate on a new stadium plan and other matters. All senior executives of the club, including Dan and Tanya Snyder, will undertake comprehensive training in workplace conduct and related issues (including bullying, diversity and inclusion, harassment, LGBTQ issues, microaggression, and unconscious bias, among other topics). As a league, we will review our own policies and practices and will look to supplement existing programs to promote respectful, inclusive, and professional workplaces that are free of misconduct. In addition to current annual training and our critical response protocols, we will develop additional comprehensive and mandatory training across the league, including on bullying, discrimination, and harassment; a requirement that all club employees have the ability anonymously to report issues of workplace conduct to their club or the NFL; and ensuring that all clubs are fully informed of best practices for building and maintaining a diverse, healthy and respectful workplace environment. | Statement from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Raiders DE Carl Nassib | The NFL family is proud of Carl for courageously sharing his truth today. Representation matters. We share his hope that someday soon statements like his will no longer be newsworthy as we march toward full equality for the LGBTQ+ community. We wish Carl the best of luck this coming season. | DIAGEO BECOMES FIRST EVER OFFICIAL SPIRITS SPONSOR OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE | Multiyear sponsorship will include brand-specific programming throughout NFL calendar NEW YORK, June 16, 2021 -- The National Football League (NFL) today welcomed Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol, as its first ever Official Spirits Sponsor. The multiyear sponsorship is uniquely structured with the NFL fan in mind and will include opportunities for on-site activation and engagement with adult fans, as well as broadcast, digital, and social content from NFL Kickoff through the Super Bowl.
For years, Crown Royal Canadian Whisky has had a significant footprint with the NFL, and this sponsorship takes it to the next level for Diageo. Featuring some of the biggest spirits brands in the world in Smirnoff Vodka, Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, and Crown Royal Whisky, this collaboration will include Responsible Drinking programs, integration into marquee events (such as NFL Honors) and, starting with the 2022 season, involvement in the NFL International Series games in London.
"NFL games have the powerful ability to bring people together, and that very much ties into what our brands at Diageo are all about: bringing people together to celebrate life," said Ed Pilkington, Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer, Diageo North America. "This is a perfect match. We are energized about bringing new and exciting programs and experiences to the NFL's passionate adult fan base, while continuing to use our platform to champion social responsibility in every way."
"We're thrilled to welcome Diageo, a global leader in the spirits industry, to the NFL family as our first ever spirits sponsor," said Renie Anderson, Chief Revenue Officer and Executive Vice President of NFL Partnerships. "We look forward to working with Diageo on innovative programs to elevate their business, as well as furthering the important message around responsible drinking."
Diageo's role as the first ever Official Spirits Sponsor of the NFL is just the latest example of the company breaking ground in sports and entertainment. In 2017, Crown Royal became the first spirits brand to advertise during a televised NFL game with its "Water Break" Responsible Drinking campaign encouraging moderation. Back in 2004, Diageo became the first company in the industry to partner with NASCAR after the auto racing company lifted its longstanding ban on distilled spirits sponsors.
Currently, Diageo has 12 NFL team and stadium deals, making today's announcement a natural progression in further unifying the two organizations.
As part of this new sponsorship, Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum will be a presenting sponsor of the NFL's Fan of the Year contest. Through this League-wide contest, each of the 32 clubs will select a fan of legal drinking age to be that particular club's Fan of the Year and receive a once in a lifetime Super Bowl experience, with the ultimate winner revealed during NFL Honors at Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles. Fans can nominate themselves, or others, at nfl.com/fanoftheyear.
| | NFL Announces 2021 Preseason Schedule Dates, Times | NATIONAL TELEVISION SCHEDULE
(All times Eastern) DATE | GAME | NETWORK (TIME) | | | | Thursday, August 5 | NFL/Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys | FOX (8:00 PM) | | | | Preseason Week 2 | | | | Friday, August 20 | Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals | ESPN (8:00 PM) | Monday, August 23 | Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints | ESPN (8:00 PM) | | | | Preseason Week 3 | | | | Sunday, August 29 | Miami Dolphins at Cincinnati Bengals | CBS (4:00 PM) | Sunday, August 29 | Cleveland Browns at Atlanta Falcons | NBC (8:00 PM) |
2021 PRESEASON WEEK-BY-WEEK SCHEDULE(All times Eastern/PM) NFL/HALL OF FAME GAME – AUGUST 5 Pittsburgh vs. Dallas (FOX), 8:00
WEEK 1 Thursday, August 12 Washington at New England, 7:30 Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, 7:30 Friday, August 13 Tennessee at Atlanta, 7:00 Buffalo at Detroit, 7:00 Dallas at Arizona, 10:00 Saturday, August 14 Miami at Chicago, 1:00 Denver at Minnesota, 4:00 New Orleans at Baltimore, 7:00 Cleveland at Jacksonville, 7:00 New York Jets at New York Giants, 7:30 Cincinnati at Tampa Bay, 7:30 Houston at Green Bay, 8:00 Kansas City at San Francisco, 8:30 Seattle at Las Vegas, 9:00 Los Angeles Chargers at Los Angeles Rams, 10:00 Sunday, August 15 Carolina at Indianapolis, 1:00
WEEK 2 Thursday, August 19 New England at Philadelphia, 7:30 Friday, August 20 Kansas City at Arizona (ESPN), 8:00 Cincinnati at Washington, 8:00 Saturday, August 21 Buffalo at Chicago, 1:00 New York Jets at Green Bay, 4:25 Baltimore at Carolina, 7:00 Atlanta at Miami, 7:00 Detroit at Pittsburgh, 7:30 Tennessee at Tampa Bay, 7:30 Houston at Dallas, 8:00 Indianapolis at Minnesota, 8:00 Las Vegas at Los Angeles Rams, 10:00 Denver at Seattle, 10:00 Sunday, August 22 New York Giants at Cleveland, 1:00 San Francisco at Los Angeles Chargers, 7:30 Monday, August 23 Jacksonville at New Orleans (ESPN), 8:00 WEEK 3 Friday, August 27 Indianapolis at Detroit, 7:00 Pittsburgh at Carolina, 7:30 Philadelphia at New York Jets, 7:30 Minnesota at Kansas City, 8:00 Saturday, August 28 Green Bay at Buffalo, 1:00 Baltimore at Washington, 6:00 Chicago at Tennessee, 7:00 Tampa Bay at Houston, 8:00 Arizona at New Orleans, 8:00 Los Angeles Rams at Denver, 9:05 Los Angeles Chargers at Seattle, 10:00 Sunday, August 29 Jacksonville at Dallas, 1:00 Miami at Cincinnati (CBS), 4:00 Las Vegas at San Francisco, 4:00 New England at New York Giants, 6:00 Cleveland at Atlanta (NBC), 8:00
2021 PRESEASON TEAM-BY-TEAM SCHEDULE(All times Eastern/PM) AFC | Buffalo | Miami | New England | N.Y. Jets | 8/13 at Detroit, 7:00 | 8/14 at Chicago, 1:00 | 8/12 Washington, 7:30 | 8/14 at N.Y. Giants, 7:30 | 8/21 at Chicago, 1:00 | 8/21 Atlanta, 7:00 | 8/19 at Philadelphia, 7:30 | 8/21 at Green Bay, 4:25 | 8/28 Green Bay, 1:00 | 8/29 at Cincinnati, 4:00 | 8/29 at N.Y. Giants, 6:00 | 8/27 Philadelphia, 7:30 | | | | | Baltimore | Cincinnati | Cleveland | Pittsburgh | 8/14 New Orleans, 7:00 | 8/14 at Tampa Bay, 7:30 | 8/14 at Jacksonville, 7:00 | 8/5 vs. Dallas,* 8:00 | 8/21 at Carolina, 7:00 | 8/20 at Washington, 8:00 | 8/22 N.Y. Giants, 1:00 | 8/12 at Philadelphia, 7:30 | 8/28 at Washington, 6:00 | 8/29 Miami, 4:00 | 8/29 at Atlanta, 8:00 | 8/21 Detroit, 7:30 | | | | 8/27 at Carolina, 7:30 | | | | | Houston | Indianapolis | Jacksonville | Tennessee | 8/14 at Green Bay, 8:00 | 8/15 Carolina, 1:00 | 8/14 Cleveland, 7:00 | 8/13 at Atlanta, 7:00 | 8/21 at Dallas, 8:00 | 8/21 at Minnesota, 8:00 | 8/23 at New Orleans, 8:00 | 8/21 at Tampa Bay, 7:30 | 8/28 Tampa Bay, 8:00 | 8/27 at Detroit, 7:00 | 8/29 at Dallas, 1:00 | 8/28 Chicago, 7:00 | | | | | Denver | Kansas City | Las Vegas | L.A. Chargers | 8/14 at Minnesota, 4:00 | 8/14 at San Francisco, 8:30 | 8/14 Seattle, 9:00 | 8/14 at L.A. Rams, 10:00 | 8/21 at Seattle, 10:00 | 8/20 at Arizona, 8:00 | 8/21 at L.A. Rams, 10:00 | 8/22 San Francisco, 7:30 | 8/28 L.A. Rams, 9:05 | 8/27 Minnesota, 8:00 | 8/29 at San Francisco, 4:00 | 8/28 at Seattle, 10:00 |
NFC | Dallas | N.Y. Giants | Philadelphia | Washington | 8/5 vs. Pittsburgh,* 8:00 | 8/14 N.Y. Jets, 7:30 | 8/12 Pittsburgh, 7:30 | 8/12 at New England, 7:30 | 8/13 at Arizona, 10:00 | 8/22 at Cleveland, 1:00 | 8/19 New England, 7:30 | 8/20 Cincinnati, 8:00 | 8/21 Houston, 8:00 | 8/29 New England, 6:00 | 8/27 at N.Y. Jets, 7:30 | 8/28 Baltimore, 6:00 | 8/29 Jacksonville, 1:00 | | | | | | | | Chicago | Detroit | Green Bay | Minnesota | 8/14 Miami, 1:00 | 8/13 Buffalo, 7:00 | 8/14 Houston, 8:00 | 8/14 Denver, 4:00 | 8/21 Buffalo, 1:00 | 8/21 at Pittsburgh, 7:30 | 8/21 N.Y. Jets, 4:25 | 8/21 Indianapolis, 8:00 | 8/28 at Tennessee, 7:00 | 8/27 Indianapolis, 7:00 | 8/28 at Buffalo, 1:00 | 8/27 at Kansas City, 8:00
| Atlanta | Carolina | New Orleans | Tampa Bay | 8/13 Tennessee, 7:00 | 8/15 at Indianapolis, 1:00 | 8/14 at Baltimore, 7:00 | 8/14 Cincinnati, 7:30 | 8/21 at Miami, 7:00 | 8/21 Baltimore, 7:00 | 8/23 Jacksonville, 8:00 | 8/21 Tennessee, 7:30 | 8/29 Cleveland, 8:00 | 8/27 Pittsburgh, 7:30 | 8/28 Arizona, 8:00 | 8/28 at Houston, 8:00 | | | | | Arizona | L.A. Rams | San Francisco | Seattle | 8/13 Dallas, 10:00 | 8/14 L.A. Chargers, 10:00 | 8/14 Kansas City, 8:30 | 8/14 at Las Vegas, 9:00 | 8/20 Kansas City, 8:00 | 8/21 Las Vegas, 10:00 | 8/22 at L.A. Chargers, 7:30 | 8/21 Denver, 10:00 | 8/28 at New Orleans, 8:00 | 8/28 at Denver, 9:05 | 8/29 Las Vegas, 4:00 | 8/28 L.A. Chargers, 10:00 | *NFL/Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio |
| NFL AND BLACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME HOST INAUGURAL GENERAL MANAGER FORUM AND FOURTH ANNUAL QUARTERBACK COACHING SUMMIT |
Events aim to strengthen the coaching and personnel development pipeline across the league In partnership with the Black College Football Hall of Fame, the NFL today announced the inaugural OZZIE NEWSOME GENERAL MANAGER FORUM and the fourth annual QUARTERBACK COACHING SUMMIT. From June 21-23, front office personnel and coaches from the NFL and NCAA will take part in the virtual programs to experience professional development and networking opportunities with NFL club executives. “The Ozzie Newsome General Manager Forum and Quarterback Coaching Summit are part of our ongoing efforts to break mobility barriers, establish a cultural norm of opportunity for all, and a steadfast commitment to developing a diverse and inclusive workforce,” said NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations TROY VINCENT SR. “Participants will be exposed to best practices used by the brightest and most creative minds in football as well as networking opportunities to build relationships and gain personal insights.” This year, participants will learn best practices used by quarterback coaches, offensive coordinators, head coaches and general managers. The Forum will provide a platform to help prepare, educate, and identify quality minority candidates. The Summit will feature various topics including how to build a coaching staff and winning culture, the qualities of a head coach, as well as provide networking opportunities for career advancement. “There is an immense amount of diverse talent in the front office and on the offensive side of the ball around the country,” said Black College Football Hall of Fame Co-Founder DOUG WILLIAMS. “It is important to allow these bright individuals the opportunity to showcase their skills to NFL executives and media. We hope the exposure the participants receive from this event results in advancement opportunities.”
The June 21 Ozzie Newsome General Manager Forum will feature sessions and panels led by NFL owners and front office personnel including: - Baltimore Ravens Owner STEVE BISCIOTTI
- Black College Football Hall of Fame co-founder JAMES “SHACK” HARRIS
- New York Giants Owner JOHN MARA
- Miami Dolphins Senior Personnel Executive REGGIE MCKENZIE
- Baltimore Ravens Executive Vice President OZZIE NEWSOME
- Buffalo Bills Owner and President KIM PEGULA
The June 22-23 Quarterback Coaching Summit will feature sessions and panels led by NFL owners, current and former coaches, and front office personnel including: - Cleveland Browns Vice President of Football Operations KWESI ADOFO-MENSAH
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach BRUCE ARIANS
- New England Patriots Head Coach BILL BELICHICK
- Atlanta Falcons Owner and Chairman ARTHUR M. BLANK
- Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach ANDY REID
- Pittsburgh Steelers President and NFL Workplace Diversity Committee Chair ART ROONEY II
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