Netflix Lands on NFL Fans' Naughty List Thanks to Brutal Christmas Day Broadcasts

The NFL world wasn’t too happy with Netflix’s production on Thursday.

Fans weren't too thrilled with Netflix on Thursday. / Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

The NFL once again turned over the controls to Netflix to broadcast its afternoon slate of Christmas Day games in 2025, handing the streaming service matchups between the Cowboys and Commanders and the Vikings and Lions to kick off the holiday.

Unfortunately, for a second straight season, the production has left fans displeased.

While the league has partnered with a handful of streaming platforms over the last several years to air some of its prime-time matchups—YouTube TV, Peacock, and Prime Video among them—none have drawn as much disdain as Netflix has.

Whether it be due to their mixed-and-matched groups of announcers, some oddly timed Zoom-hosted interviews with former players, or a scorebug that looks like it's AI-generated, Netflix became the butt of the joke—or was just outright ripped by fans—across social media on Thursday.

NFL fans ripped into Netflix for their production of 2025 Christmas Day games

Kay Adams and Michael Irvin were among the group on broadcasters working with Netflix on Christmas Day. / Amber Searls-Imagn Images

The most specific gripe fans had with Netflix was its decision to have announcers Ian Eagle, Nate Burleson, and Matt Ryan interview former players Clinton Portis and Emmitt Smith—via Zoom—in the middle of the Cowboys–Commanders game.

Netflix doing interviews with former players in the middle of the game… pic.twitter.com/GPXcgjl6Oi

— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) December 25, 2025

Nobody wants to hear an interview in the middle of an nfl game. Netflix what are we doing? Emmitt Smith is cool but this is ridiculous

— Nicky🇺🇸 (@NickyScatz) December 25, 2025

A mid-game interview is a horrible choice by Netflix

— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) December 25, 2025

TRENDING: #NFL fans are ANGRY with Netflix Christmas game mid-game interviews over zoom.

They have already interviewed Emmitt Smith and Clinton Portis — The connection & sound has been awful, and the answers are delayed for the most part.

😬
pic.twitter.com/8WucfZPC9U

— MLFootball (@MLFootball) December 25, 2025

Fire the production team for Netflix. An abomination of a broadcast. No one needs to see guys who played 6-10-30 years ago on FaceTime during a close divisional game

— David Canter (@davidcanter) December 25, 2025

These mid game interviews on Netflix are brutal.

— JD  (@JDGoldboys) December 25, 2025

Generally, though, fans were upset about the overall quality of the Netflix broadcast.

Watching the NFL on Netflix… pic.twitter.com/PmF27M94Dx

— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) December 25, 2025

Netflix should not do live events. This quality is horrible.

— Allie Rae (@MrsAllieRae) December 25, 2025

The NFL stream on Netflix is garbage.

— JohnRocker (@itsJohnRocker) December 25, 2025

Why is it every time @Netflix does an NFL game I feel the need to post about how terrible their broadcast is? pic.twitter.com/BYRUwKnLtU

— JF Shillingsworth ✝️ (@JShillingsworth) December 25, 2025

Can we get back to the game? #netflix

— Fred Kirsch (@Fred_Kirsch) December 25, 2025

Actually watching nfl on Netflix today and I honestly have no idea what's going on. There is constant talking and interviewing over a game and not commenting on the actual play of the game. Wtf is this horseshit. This is not football.

— Rapp 🐊🏈🔥 (@Teknologikk) December 25, 2025

The Netflix presentation feels so amateur.

— Bobby Belt (@BobbyBeltTX) December 25, 2025

Netflix shouldn’t have no more live events on their platform

— yatta 🎒 (@yattadondada) December 25, 2025

why am I paying to watch commercials on Netflix

— Faux Pelini (@FauxPelini) December 25, 2025

This Dallas/Washington game on Netflix is a disgrace. They do not have what is needed to manage pro football. Constant buffering. Only commercials have clear picture. #NFL

— Mary Dollinger (@MaryDollinger6) December 25, 2025

Hey @NFL & @netflix I have to admit I'm NOT liking the experience of NFL coverage. I want to watch the game i don't need to hear Clinton Portis or Emmitt Smith before that being interviewed this is a football game not remember the past.

— Patrick Gray (@sportsguy85) December 25, 2025

Here’s to hoping Netflix can iron things out and provide a broadcast a year from now, when they’ll inevitably be back hosting the NFL’s slate of Christmas Day games.

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