Exclusive: Why Fox and ESPN Are Drawing a Line on Netflix’s Christmas Game Talent Loan Requests

Last year, Fox said no to a request to lend Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady to Netflix for Christmas. Eventually, the network allowed Greg Olsen to work one of the two games. ESPN allowed Laura Rutledge and Mina Kimes to work the Christmas games.

It’s unfortunate for the folks who would like to take on the extra work. Since the Christmas games are happening on days when the NFL isn’t otherwise playing, it’s not distracting them from their primary jobs.The holiday season is fast approaching, and with it comes the much-anticipated NFL Christmas doubleheader—but this year, there’s a twist that’s stirring the pot. Netflix, making bold moves toward snagging a full slate of football games, is finding itself facing some unexpected resistance. Surprisingly, ESPN and Fox aren’t exactly rolling out the red carpet to lend their top-tier talent for the 2025 Christmas matchups. It’s a curious standstill, especially given that these games fall on a rare NFL off-day, offering commentators and analysts a unique chance to shine without conflicting with their regular gigs. CBS, on the other hand, looks far more amenable, possibly because it’s producing the Netflix broadcasts. The whole situation feels a tad petty, doesn’t it? Especially when you consider the talents’ eagerness to branch out and tackle fresh opportunities. But, as you might guess, this is more than just a simple scheduling hiccup—it’s quickly evolving into a strategic chess match involving future contracts, permissions, and network loyalties. Curious to dig into the details? LEARN MOREPer the report, ESPN talent will not appear on the Cowboys-Commanders and Lions-Vikings games on December 25. Fox talent is not expected to participate.And so it seems petty, frankly, for the networks to deny their employees the chance to spread their wings. It also becomes a bargaining point for future employment contracts, with talent seeking express permission as part of their deals to participate in one-off productions with other networks.According to FrontOfficeSports.com, ESPN and Fox are reluctant to loan talent to Netflix for the 2025 Christmas doubleheader.

As Netflix inches toward potentially acquiring a full package of games, some of the streamer’s eventual competitors are reluctant to help the company produce quality content on Christmas.CBS produces the Netflix games, making CBS far more likely to allow its one-air talent to work the games. NBC’s Devin McCourty was involved in last year’s broadcast, too.