The NFL and ESPN reached a groundbreaking agreement where the NFL acquires a 10-percent ownership stake in ESPN, while ESPN gains significant assets from NFL Media. This partnership is unprecedented, with extensive implications that will become clear when the deal activates for the 2026 NFL season. Questions remain, particularly regarding the future of RedZone, but Scott Hansen will continue as host after signing a four-year contract extension. The NFL will still oversee production of RedZone, despite ESPN's distribution rights.
The league gets a 10-percent ownership stake in the network, while ESPN acquires major elements of NFL Media, including NFL Network, linear and multisport branding rights to RedZone.
It's a seismic and unprecedented partnership - and one that comes with myriad questions, some of which cannot be answered until we're actually experiencing how it all works after the deal kicks in for the 2026 NFL season.
Most of the questions I've received from readers since the deal was formally announced relate to how it will eventually affect RedZone.
Good news: Hansen won't be going anywhere - he recently signed a four-year contract extension, so go ahead and erase those fears of RedZone host Pat McAfee.
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