The NFL is considering renegotiating media rights deals as early as 2026, potentially adding billions to revenue. The current agreement has an opt-out clause after 2029, except for Disney. Goodell is open to early talks with partners to secure long-term stability. NFL dominates TV ratings and could benefit from increased deals seen in other leagues.

Acceleration of media talks in 2026 may face regulatory challenges due to ESPN’s pending deal with the NFL. A potential 18th week of regular season play and approval from the NFL Players Association could also delay new agreements. The NFL aims for flexibility to add new partners like YouTube and Netflix, potentially influencing MLB’s future media rights negotiations.

A new media deal could impact NFL team valuations, with the average team now worth $7.65 billion. Increased revenue could lead to roster expansion and higher salary caps. The potential for larger TV deals could impact other sports leagues and set a benchmark for future negotiations. Comcast’s spinoff of Versant could also affect media discussions.

Read more at CNBC: NFL TV rights could enter renegotiations next year, Roger Goodell says