BREAKING: ESPN and NFL Reach Historic Deal - NFL Gets 10% Stake in ESPN for Media Assets
UPDATE: August 1, 2025 - ESPN and the NFL have reached a landmark agreement that will give the league a minority equity stake in the sports network in exchange for several of the NFL's key media assets, according to a report from The Athletic. While details are expected to be finalized and announced as early as next week — coinciding with Disney's quarterly earnings call on Wednesday — sources close to the negotiations revealed to The Athletic that the NFL will receive up to a 10% ownership stake in ESPN. In return, ESPN gains control of several NFL-owned media properties, including RedZone, NFL Network, the league's fantasy football business, and seven additional regular-season games.
After four years of negotiations that have been described as "inside the five-yard line" for months, the NFL and ESPN have reportedly finalized a groundbreaking deal that fundamentally reshapes sports media ownership. This agreement has been years in the making, as both sides navigated fits and starts in negotiations spanning four years. The NFL has long sought to offload its media assets, which, while high in visibility, have failed to match ESPN's reach.
What the Deal Includes
The historic agreement brings together America's most popular sports league with the nation's leading sports network in an unprecedented partnership:
NFL Receives:
- Up to 10% equity stake in ESPN (valued at approximately $2 billion)
- Enhanced distribution platform for NFL content
- Strategic partnership with Disney's media empire
ESPN Gains Control Of:
- NFL Network and its 24/7 programming
- NFL RedZone (the beloved Sunday viewing experience)
- Seven additional regular-season NFL games
- The NFL's fantasy football business
- Select NFL Media properties (though not NFL Films, NFL.com, or NFL+)
Strategic Implications
The blockbuster deal also comes just weeks before ESPN launches its highly anticipated direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming service, slated to cost $29.99 per month. The platform — branded simply as "ESPN" — will give fans the ability to access the full suite of ESPN content, including live games, without a traditional cable or satellite subscription.
With the NFL holding 10 percent of ESPN, Disney will have an unprecedented foothold when it comes to televising pro football, potentially creating conflicts when the league's current domestic media-rights deals expire in 2029 and 2030. This partnership essentially makes the NFL a "forever partner" with ESPN, providing significant leverage in future media rights negotiations.
What This Means for Fans
The deal raises significant questions about how fans will consume NFL content going forward. Under ESPN's stewardship, sources tell The Athletic the NFL Network could mirror the structure of SEC Network — serving as a 24/7 companion outlet dedicated to NFL content while leveraging shared talent and resources with ESPN's main programming.
For NFL RedZone specifically, ESPN could bundle it into cable and streaming packages or offer it directly through the new app. This has generated concern among fans worried about potential changes to the beloved Sunday programming format, though ESPN has indicated they understand the value of preserving what makes RedZone special.
Regulatory and Timeline Considerations
With any agreement such as this, regulatory approval will be required, and that process could stretch into mid-to-late 2026. If completed in time, the integration of NFL Media into ESPN could be in full effect just ahead of the network's first Super Bowl broadcast in February 2027.
The deal is expected to be formally announced next week, potentially during Disney's quarterly earnings call on Wednesday, marking the culmination of negotiations that began in earnest four years ago when the NFL first sought to monetize or divest its media properties.
Industry Impact
This unprecedented partnership between the NFL and ESPN represents a seismic shift in sports media ownership, with potential implications for journalistic independence, competitive dynamics, and how America's most popular sport is covered and consumed. "This deal gives the NFL a chance to divest from the production side and instead focus on monetizing its intellectual property," one source told The Athletic. "And ESPN gets stronger distribution leverage heading into future carriage negotiations."
The agreement comes as traditional cable television continues to decline while streaming services proliferate, positioning both organizations for the evolving media landscape of the next decade.
