Three changes to make NFL preseason broadcasts better

Oct 18, 2017; New York, NY, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell speaks to the media after the NFL owners meeting at the Conrad Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Catalina Fragoso-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2017; New York, NY, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell speaks to the media after the NFL owners meeting at the Conrad Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Catalina Fragoso-USA TODAY Sports /
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Desmond Ridder, former UC quarterback, center, sits with his step sister Tia, girlfriend Claire Cornett, daughter Leighton, 1, mother Sarah Ridder and her husband Aaron as they watch the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft broadcast at his draft party in Louisville, Ky., on Friday, April 29, 2022.
Desmond Ridder, former UC quarterback, center, sits with his step sister Tia, girlfriend Claire Cornett, daughter Leighton, 1, mother Sarah Ridder and her husband Aaron as they watch the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft broadcast at his draft party in Louisville, Ky., on Friday, April 29, 2022. /

Allow more broadcast personalization in the NFL+ app

The NFL launched its direct-to-consumer offering, NFL+, in July 2022. The app has not been put under the regular season’s paces, but the NFL should build upon the app further.

The NFL put a lot of weight behind their newest app, replacing the popular NFL GamePass option before the 2022 season. NFL+ makes watching and listening to games more accessible, especially without a cable provider.

"“Today marks an important day in the history of the National Football League with the launch of NFL+,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “The passionate and dedicated football fans are the lifeblood of the NFL, and being able to reach and interact with them across multiple platforms is incredibly important to us. We look forward to continuing to grow NFL+ and deepening our relationship with fans across all ages and demographics, providing them access to a tremendous amount of NFL content, including the most valuable content in the media industry: live NFL games.”"

But, take the app a step further. Let fans customize how they want to watch a game. Peacock, NBC’s streaming service, started offering commentary-less baseball on Sundays. While baseball fans have mixed reviews, imagine that in a football game. You could hear Arrowhead’s crowd, at full blast. The sounds of football, then the noticeable echo of Nate Herron’s voice, just like you were really there. That sounds like Sunday nirvana.

Plus, what if fans are watching for their fantasy teams? Allow fantasy football overlays, showing top performers in that specific game at a moment’s notice. Statistical fans would want to see how teams are producing while they watch the game, instead of opening ESPN or another app for the information. MLB already has a similar model, there is no reason the NFL could not adopt one as well.