Netflix Gameday Welcomes Tom Pelissero as NFL Insider

In January, ESPN acquired the NFL Network, NFL Fantasy, and the cable and satellite rights for NFL RedZone. This raised questions about the future of key sports media figures. While prominent personalities such as Ian Rapaport and Kyle Brandt retained their positions, others including Tom Pelissero, Ryan Clark, Charles Davis, Stephania Bell, Damien Woody, Cam Newton, and Bart Scott were released during ESPN’s latest layoffs.

Among those, Tom Pelissero swiftly found a new position before the start of the football season. Netflix announced on X that “Tom Pelissero is joining Netflix Gameday as a sideline reporter and NFL insider for the full slate of games this season, beginning with the 49ers vs. Rams matchup in Week 1 from Melbourne.”

Besides his role on Netflix Gameday, Pelissero will co-host ‘The Ringer NFL Show’ and contribute to various NFL podcasts for The Ringer, making regular appearances on ‘The Bill Simmons Podcast.’ The Ringer’s video podcasts will be accessible on Netflix.

Netflix aims to establish itself as a prominent platform for live sports streaming. By onboarding an established NFL insider like Pelissero, it enhances its sports portfolio significantly. In 2026, Netflix will stream five NFL regular-season games to its 325 million paid subscribers. The platform is eager to expand its offerings and become a major destination for professional sports content.

The comprehensive 2026 Netflix NFL schedule includes:

• Week 1: Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, 8:35 p.m. ET, Thursday, Sept. 10
• Week 12: Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Rams, Thanksgiving Eve, 8 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Nov. 25
• Week 16: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m. ET, Christmas Day Doubleheader, Friday, Dec. 25
• Week 16: Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos, 4:30 p.m. ET, Christmas Day Doubleheader, Friday, Dec. 25
• Week 18: TBD regular-season finale, 1 p.m. ET, Saturday, Jan. 9