Netflix is going big for its first regular-season NFL game in Australia, and it is bringing a broadcast crew that looks more like a championship Sunday lineup than a streamer’s first trip to Melbourne
For the Rams vs. 49ers matchup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 10, Netflix will feature Noah Eagle handling play-by-play duties, Luke Kuechly as an analyst, and MJ Acosta-Ruiz reporting from the sideline. Elle Duncan will host coverage, while Michael Irvin, Clay Matthews III, and Nick Foles will join the studio team.
The game will mark the first time the NFL has played a regular-season game in Australia, and Netflix is using the international showcase to introduce fans to its version of NFL coverage.
Luke Kuechly Leads Netflix’s New NFL Voice
One of the biggest names joining Netflix’s NFL coverage is Luke Kuechly. The former Carolina Panthers linebacker has become one of the most respected defensive voices in football since retiring, and Netflix is bringing him in as part of its effort to build an analyst team around former players who can provide deeper football insight.
Kuechly previously emerged as one of Netflix’s major NFL hires as the company prepared to expand its football coverage, signaling that the streamer wanted recognizable football personalities rather than simply copying traditional broadcast models.
Alongside Kuechly, Netflix is adding several other former players with plenty of NFL experience. Michael Irvin brings years of television experience after his Hall of Fame playing career with the Dallas Cowboys. Clay Matthews III provides a defensive perspective after a long NFL career, while Nick Foles joins the team after leading the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl victory.
Netflix’s NFL Schedule Is Bigger Than One Game
For Netflix, the Australia matchup is only the beginning. Beyond the Land Down Under, Netflix’s 2026 NFL presence includes a five-game package that features international coverage, a new Thanksgiving Eve game, Christmas Day matchups, a Week 18 game, and NFL Honors. The move builds on Netflix’s growing relationship with the NFL after the streamer previously hosted Christmas Day games, which became one of the biggest tests of the league’s push toward streaming.
Now, Netflix is moving beyond occasional games and creating a larger NFL destination inside its app. Its football expansion comes as the NFL continues shifting more important games away from traditional television and toward streaming platforms.
Over the next several years, fans will increasingly see major NFL moments spread across services including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, ESPN’s streaming products, and other digital platforms. Instead of needing one traditional TV package, fans will increasingly need access to different streaming services depending on which games they want to watch.
With a growing NFL schedule and a broadcast team built around recognizable football names, Netflix is preparing for its biggest football season yet.
