ESPN Officially Takes Over NFL Network Today

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Roger Goodell sent a note to NFL Network employees Tuesday afternoon as the network prepares to formally become part of ESPN on Wednesday.

ESPN reached an agreement to acquire NFL Network and the linear distrbutrion rights to RedZone in August 2025, with the NFL taking a 10% equity stake in the Worldwide Leader in return. When the deal was announced, the prevailing assumption was that regulatory approval would take between one and two years. Instead, federal regulators signed off in early February, giving ESPN enough time to begin integrating NFL Media employees well before the start of the 2026-27 season, given that ESPN will air its first-ever Super Bowl in February 2027.

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“So tomorrow begins a new chapter for NFL Media, NFL Network and many of you. To those remaining with NFL Media to evolve our key fan-facing platforms — from our website, apps and content productions across YouTube, FAST and podcasts, to NFL RedZone — please know how much we appreciate you. You will lead NFL Media into this next chapter. To those heading to ESPN, we offer a heartfelt thank you. We have no doubt that you will continue to drive unparalleled coverage of the NFL. And whether you are transitioning or staying, each of you will keep contributing to our greater football story, building on the relationships, sacrifice and teamwork that made this moment possible.”

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No immediate talent announcements are expected on Wednesday, though some well-known NFL Network names have already signed deals to stay on board, according to SBJ’s Austin Karp, who reports there will be a noticeable amount of crossover of talent and content between the two networks. That’s a much more optimistic framing than what was circulating closer to the deal’s closing. Front Office Sports reported in early March that morale was “plummeting” at NFL Media, with some senior staffers described as being in “panic mode” about what ESPN’s takeover would mean for their futures.

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