The road to the 2021 NFL Regular Season will be getting a lot clearer as teams around the league will be releasing their schedules for the upcoming season. The 2021 NFL Regular Season will be the first time teams will play a 17-game regular season and three preseason games. The league has been playing a 16-game regular season and four preseason games since 1978. Not only will teams be playing 17 games, but the AFC will be the home conference for this year’s season finale. During the 17th game, teams will be playing an interconference game against a team that finished in the same place within their division in 2020.
Wednesday, May 12 the NFL will begin to roll out the schedules for all 32 teams across multiple shows. Find out how to watch all of the coverage of the 2021 NFL Schedule Release below.
Shows covering the 2021 NFL Schedule Release
ABC
To kick things off, ABC’s Good Morning America will be unveiling the week 1 matchup for Monday Night Football. The show’s exclusive announcement will likely happen during the 8 a.m. hour.
NFL Network
Beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET, NFL Network will be broadcasting Schedule Release ’21 Presented by Verizon, a three-hour special covering all the news, storylines, and each team’s schedule for the upcoming season. The show will be hosted by longtime NFL Network host and 2021 Sports Emmy nominee Rich Eisen with analysts Kurt Warner, Michael Irvin and Steve Mariucci, Colleen Wolfe joining him from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, which will be the site of Super Bowl LVI.
They will be joined by Cynthia Frelund, Joe Thomas, and Kimmi Chex who will provide perspective for fantasy football players. Other featured guests include:
- Play-by-play announcers Jim Nantz (CBS), Al Michaels (NBC) & Joe Buck (FOX)
- Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford
- Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy
- Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David
- Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker
ESPN2
SportsCenter Special: 2021 NFL Schedule Release is another three-hour special that will be airing on ESPN2 from 8:00-11:00 p.m. ET. The special will stream simultaneously on ESPN+. The special will be hosted by Monday Night Football commentators Steve Levy, Louis Riddick, and Brian Griese. They will break down the upcoming games and intriguing matchups for the upcoming season, plus speculate on what they think will be the “Game of the Year.” Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay and other guests will be joining them during the special.
From 8-10 p.m ET, cord cutters can watch Between the Lines: NFL Schedule Release on ESPN+. The show will explore the 2021 schedule release from an odds and fantasy football perspective. The special will be hosted by a combination of talent from ESPN’s Daily Wager and Fantasy Football now shows.Oddsmaker experts Doug Kezirian, Joe Fortenbaugh, Tyler Fulghum, Steve Coughlin, and Anita Marks will be joined by fantasy football sports analyst Matthew Berry, host Field Yates, and insiders Stephania Bell and Mike Clay for one of the most comprehensive breakdowns of the 2021 schedule.
ESPN Digital Platforms
From 8-9:00 p.m. ET, SportsNation will cover the 2021 NFL Schedule Release via ESPN’s digital platforms (Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube). Hosts Treavor Scales, Gary Striewski, and Christine Williamson will give their reactions for every game announced and the week-by-week matchups for the 2021 NFL Season. During the hour-long special the trio will be joined by ESPN NFL Nation reporters who will give their input on each team’s schedule.
How to watch all of the 2021 NFL Schedule Release Coverage?
AntennaWeb is a great tool you can use to see what ABC channel is available in your area with an antenna.
Locast: Viewers in over 30 markets served by Locast will also be able to watch on their local ABC for free with the service
NFL app and ESPN app will have every team’s schedule and comprehensive coverage of each game heading into the 2021 season available at 8:00 p.m. ET.. ESPN’s coverage will also be available on their digital channels (Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube).
ESPN+: Subscribers can watch all of the NFL Schedule Release coverage on ESPN+ for only $5.99/mo. or $59.99/yr. and can cancel anytime.
Cord cutters can watch every moment of the 2021 NFL Schedule Release by subscribing to any streaming service that carries ESPN2, ABC, or NFL Network. Choosing from any of these subscription services below has its benefits because there are no hidden fees, you can cancel anytime with most offering a free trial for new subscribers.
- AT&T TV: Subscribers to AT&T TV can watch the NFL’s schedule release on ESPN2, and ABC, and over 60 other channels for only $69.99/month with their Entertainment package. 20 hours of DVR is included so you won’t miss your team’s opponents, and you can record your other favorite shows.
- Hulu + Live TV: For only $65/month, Hulu + Live TV gives you access to ESPN2’s, and ABC’s coverage of the 2021 NFL Schedule Release. Plus, subscribers get over 65 channels, and access to Hulu’s large library of content including exclusive shows and movies. With 50 hours of Cloud DVR included you’ll be able to record all the coverage and breakdown of your favorite team’s weekly competition.
- fuboTV: Perhaps the best sports-orientated streaming service is because subscribers can watch ESPN2, ABC, and NFL Network for full coverage of the NFL Schedule Release shows, over 130 events in 4K, and 100+ channels, starting at $64.99/month. 250 hours of Cloud DVR means there is plenty of room to save your favorite events.
- YouTube TV: For $65/month, YouTube TV is a great service for watching NFL Network, ABC, and ESPN2 for full coverage, and over 80 other channels. With unlimited Cloud DVR storage, it’s the perfect place to record every NFL analyst’s predictions, games from the upcoming season, and have the ability to come back to it at season’s end.
- Sling TV: Sling has a few different packages to watch the 2021 NFL Schedule Release. For only $35/month subscribers to the Sing Blue package can watch schedule release coverage on NFL Network, or catch all the coverage on ESPN2 with Sling Orange. Fans can watch the 2021 NFL Schedule Release coverage on both channels with Sling Orange + Blue for only $50/month. Starting at 44 channels, Sling also offers 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage and is one of the most affordable services to watch the NFL.
- Vidgo: NFL Network, ESPN2, and ABC are part of the 95 channel lineup available on Vidgo. Catch all of the schedule release coverage for only $55/month.