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5h ago

NFL Preseason Averages 2.2 Million Viewers, Best Since 2018

Expanded measurement complicates year-over-year comparisons.

Aug 16, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; General view of the National Football League logo on footballs prior to the game between the New York Jets and the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images/File Photo
Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Overview

  • The league reported a 2.2 million average audience per preseason game across linear and digital platforms, up 17% from 2024 and the highest since 2018.
  • NFL Network averaged 1.8 million viewers for its live games, a record preseason mark for the channel and a 26% year-over-year increase.
  • The Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on July 31 drew about 6.9 million viewers, roughly 40% higher than last year’s edition.
  • Cleveland quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ NFL debut averaged 2.24 million viewers on NFL Network, topping the channel’s preseason average.
  • The figures include digital viewing and arrive as Nielsen rolls out its Big Data + Panel methodology, offering encouraging momentum after the 2024 regular season averaged 17.5 million viewers per game, down 2.2%.