Which streamer do we think is the best fit for NFL fans?
Which streamer do we think is the best fit for NFL fans?
DIRECTV’s channel selection and variety of packages available for watching the NFL make it our favorite pick to watch the 2025 season.
What’s the outlook like for your favorite NFL team? Is it a season full of promise, or does the 2025 campaign look bleak for your club? No matter the “expert” prognostications, you’re just going to have to watch for yourself to see how it goes, because in the NFL anything can happen on any given — well, you know.
The 2025-26 NFL season will see games played on ABC, CBS, ESPN, Fox, NBC, and NFL Network, and that means a live TV streaming service will be needed to watch each game on traditional TV every week. There are lots to choose from, and we understand it can get pretty confusing. The Streamable’s experts are on the case, however, and we’ve got all the details on why DIRECTV is our favorite choice for watching the upcoming NFL season right here.
Why DIRECTV is The Streamable’s favorite choice to stream the NFL in 2025-26
Which NFL channels are available on DIRECTV?
All of the linear channels that carry NFL games in 2025 are available in DIRECTV channel packages. Customers will be able to watch ABC, CBS, ESPN, Fox, NBC, and NFL Network on DIRECTV, though not all of those channels are available in every plan. We’ll break it down a little further next.
Which DIRECTV plans are best for watching the NFL?
The answer here comes down to whether you want to watch a wide selection of cable news and entertainment channels with your NFL coverage on DIRECTV, or if you would prefer to just watch live sports and get your other entertainment from different sources.
If you want an all-in-one approach, you can stream ABC, CBS, ESPN, Fox, NBC, and NFL Network in the DIRECTV CHOICE package, one of its Signature channel plans. This package starts at $90 per month normally, though it’s discounted to $55 for your first month plus taxes and fees for new customers for a limited time! The choice plan comes with 125+ total channels, bundles Disney+, Hulu, and the Unlimited plan of the new ESPN streaming service into the cost as well. Keep in mind, the CHOICE package may include a regional sports network fee if you get an RSN in your area, an extra charge of up to $18 per month.
If you’re more interested in just watching sports, you should check out the MySports Genre Pack. This plan comes in at $70 per month now discounted to $60 for two months , and has 20+ different sports channels like ESPN, FS1, TNT, and a lot more. It includes NFL Network, though some markets may not receive all of ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. Make sure you check carefully to see if all of these channels are included in MySports in your area; if not, the CHOICE package may be the best call.
Either way you go, however, if you choose to stream DIRECTV through your own smart TV or streaming device with the DIRECTV app installed, you get a five-day free trial!
Does DIRECTV have NFL RedZone?
There are ways to get NFL RedZone channel, either with the CHOICE package or with the MySports Genre pack if you want to see Scott Hanson whip you around the league for seven hours of uninterrupted football every Sunday. Let’s start with CHOICE; you can add the NFL RedZone channel and a package of 10+ more sports networks to the CHOICE package for $15 per month with the Sports Pack add-on.
If you’re going the MySports Pack route, you can get RedZone through the MySports Extra mini add-on pack, which costs $13 per month and also includes Willow TV and other channels such as MAVTV and MotorTrend.
You can also get NFL RedZone included as part of the base channel package in the DIRECTV PREMIER plan, which costs $165 per month normally but is discounted to $120 for a limited time.
Will DIRECTV have any streaming-exclusive games free?
On Monday, Oct. 20, the Houston Texans will play the Seattle Seahawks in a game that will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+. The good news is that ESPN+ is now included in the ESPN streaming service that is free to all DIRECTV subscribers of the MySports package, or any DIRECTV Signature package, including the CHOICE plan. In short, yes, DIRECTV will offer that ESPN+-exclusive game.
As for games on Netflix, Peacock, or Prime Video that are streaming-only, DIRECTV will not have them available for a national audience. However, these games will all stream on local broadcast channels in the markets of the two teams playing, and these channels are widely available in DIRECTV plans, as described above.
DIRECTV
DIRECTV is one of The Streamable’s top choices for the best live TV streaming service overall in 2026, especially for users who want the most channels or want to watch the most live sports. With an unbeatable lineup of local, news, sports, and entertainment channels, three main signature packages, an unlimited DVR, and 20 simultaneous streams at home, DIRECTV remains a premier choice for any cord-cutter.