NFL Fans Are Raging After ‘Sunday Ticket’ Announced Their Insane Prices For 2026 Season
Does Sunday Ticket still makes sense?
NFL Sunday Ticket is facing renewed questions over whether it’s actually worth the money, especially as the league spreads more games across different TV networks and streaming platforms.
YouTube TV now carries the package since taking it over from DirecTV in 2023. It remains the go-to option for fans wanting out-of-market Sunday afternoon games, which is a lifesaver if you live far away from your favorite team.
Still, the 2026-27 price has some fans thinking twice. The standard package sits at $480. While you can break that down into eight monthly payments of $60, you’re locked in and can’t cancel after just one month.
There are a few discounts out there, though. New sign-ups can get it for $240, returning users pay $336, and existing YouTube TV subscribers pay $234. On top of that, teachers, military members, veterans, first responders, and healthcare workers can unlock a $198 rate through ID.me.
Everyone Questions Sunday Ticket’s Value
NFL and YouTube (Photo Via Imagn Images and X)
The NFL’s changing schedule has added to the debate. The league plans to play six games on Wednesdays and Fridays this season. It also plans nine international games across 18 weeks.
Some of those international games will air on NFL Network at 9:30 a.m. ET. Other games will appear on Netflix, Peacock, and YouTube. That means fans can find more NFL games outside the traditional Sunday afternoon window.
Bobby Burack argued that those changes have reduced Sunday Ticket’s appeal. He wrote, “In total, the NFL will play six games on Wednesdays and Fridays this season, two days it long avoided (in part because of legal restrictions). Further, nine of the league’s 18 weeks will include an international game, most of which will air on NFL Network at 9:30 a.m. ET.”
He also clearly said, “The NFL got greedy. Sunday Ticket’s diminished value is a consequence. And as the league continues to expand its national windows, demand for the package will decline. Unless, of course, the NFL lowers the price.”
Even so, NFL Sunday Ticket is still a must-have for many people. If you live hundreds of miles away from your favorite team, it’s pretty much the only way to catch all their Sunday action.
Ultimately, it comes down to what kind of fan you are. If you follow multiple teams across the league, the discounted rates might still feel worth every penny. But for everyone else, dropping nearly $500 gets harder to justify when so many prime games are already scattered across different streaming apps and broadcast channels.
