American football, often referred to simply as football in the United States, is a popular spectator sport that originated in the United States. The National Football League (NFL) is the highest professional level of American football in the world. The NFL has 32 teams across the United States and games are played from September to January. With the growth of the NFL’s international series, which sees regular season NFL games played in London, as well as the availability of broadcasts and streaming services, American football has seen a growth in popularity in the UK over the last decade. For new and existing fans alike, there are many options to watch American football in the UK.
Watch on UK Television
The NFL has media deals with various broadcasters in the UK to air games throughout the season. Here are some of the key ways to watch NFL games live on UK television:
Sky Sports – Sky has the rights to air NFL games in the UK, including Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, Thursday Night Football, Sunday afternoon games, the London Games, the Playoffs, Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl. NFL coverage is available as part of Sky Sports packages.
BBC – The BBC airs the Super Bowl and NFL highlights shows. The Super Bowl is shown on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Channel 5 – Channel 5 airs NFL highlights throughout the regular season as well as during the Playoffs.
So getting access to the Sky Sports channels or BBC/Channel 5 will give you coverage of NFL games in the UK on traditional broadcast TV.
Streaming Services
There are also various streaming options for watching the NFL:
NFL Game Pass – This is the NFL’s own streaming service that lets you stream live NFL games, including regular season, Playoffs and Super Bowl. There are various packages available to fit different needs. With the Pro subscription, you can stream live out-of-market preseason games, all 256 regular season games, the Playoffs and the Super Bowl.
Sky Go – For Sky Sports subscribers, you can stream NFL games on various devices via the Sky Go app. This allows you to watch the NFL coverage from Sky on your smartphone, tablet or computer.
BBC iPlayer – The Super Bowl is available on BBC iPlayer after it airs on BBC One.
YouTube – Official NFL channels on YouTube offer highlights and other NFL-related content.
DAZN – This sports streaming service offers NFL Game Pass access in Canada. With a VPN, UK fans could potentially access DAZN Canada to get NFL Game Pass.
FuboTV – A sports focused streaming service that provides NFL coverage and NFL RedZone in the United States. Again, would need to use a VPN set to the US.
So in summary, Game Pass, Sky Go and BBC iPlayer provide legal streaming options for UK fans to get the most NFL action. Using a VPN could open up additional streaming options.
Watch at a Sports Bar
One of the best ways to get the genuine American football viewing experience is to head down to your local sports bar and watch games there. Here are some of the top sports bars in the UK for watching the NFL:
Sports Bar & Grill (Various Locations) – With bars in London, Manchester, Leeds and other locations, Sports Bar & Grill shows a wide range of sports, including the NFL.
Walkabout (Various Locations) – Popular Australian-themed chain bar that shows NFL games across many UK locations.
Belushi’s (London) – This London bar close to London Bridge station screens NFL games on Sundays.
Hippodrome Casino (Leicester Square, London) – This casino in Leicester Square has an NFL Sunday ticket and screens games in their bars.
The Sportsman (Central London) – Historic London pub that dates back to the 19th century. Screens NFL games in its backroom.
Rileys Sport Bars (Various Locations) – Rileys bars in London and other locations air NFL games.
Romford Sports Bar (Romford) – Sports focused bar in Romford, Essex, that shows NFL matches.
So look up sports bars in your local area to see which ones show NFL games. The atmosphere and social aspect of watching American football in a bar can add to the experience.
Watch at an NFL London Game
The NFL hosts a series of regular season games in London every year. If you’re able to get tickets, this is the ultimate way to experience American football live:
- The games are held between October-November each season.
- They are played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley Stadium.
- There are typically 3 London Games per season.
- The Jacksonville Jaguars have a deal to play one London Game per season.
- Other teams in the mix for London Games include the New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos.
- Tickets sell out fast when they go on sale in January.
- NFL UK website and ticket partners like Ticketmaster are best places to buy tickets.
Attending an NFL London game allows you to see NFL action live and feel the excitement and spectacle of the sport. It’s an incredible experience for UK fans.
Watch on Mobile/Tablet
Many of the streaming options covered also have mobile and tablet apps that allow you to watch on your iOS or Android device:
- NFL Game Pass app lets you access games live or on demand.
- Sky Go app enables live streaming for Sky Sports subscribers.
- BBC iPlayer app has the Super Bowl live.
- NFL app and team apps provide highlights and news.
So it’s easy to watch NFL action on your smartphone or tablet, giving you flexibility to keep up with the games on the go.
Listen on Radio
BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra provides live radio commentary of NFL games. While you won’t get the visuals on radio, listening along can still keep you up to date as a second screen option or for times you can’t watch. Radio 5 Live will typically focus commentary on the biggest matchup of the week.
Watch Condensed Games
If you don’t have time to watch full live games, the NFL YouTube channel and NFL website post condensed and mini highlight versions of games roughly 30-60 minutes in length. These allow you to watch extended highlights and key plays from each game in a manageable amount of time. Great for getting caught up on the crucial action.
Key Events Calendar
Here is a quick calendar overview of the key dates and events in the NFL season:
Month | Key Events |
---|---|
September | Regular season begins, first London game |
October | Remaining London games, trade deadline |
November | Thanksgiving games, division rivalry games |
December | Final weeks of regular season |
January | Playoffs begin, Super Bowl matchup set |
February | Super Bowl |
This gives you an idea of when the key viewing windows are during the NFL season.
Conclusion
In summary, NFL American football has never been easier to watch in the UK. Between the television coverage on Sky Sports, BBC and Channel 5, as well as streaming options like NFL Game Pass, fans have plenty of accessible viewing platforms. Heading to sports bars provides a great communal atmosphere. And getting tickets to the London Games allows you to soak up the NFL atmosphere live. With this guide, UK fans can enjoy all the thrills and spills of American football action.