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Super Bowl champion Joe Theismann said the NFL has left tradition behind.
The NFL has expanded their primetime schedule to holidays and playing games overseas, meaning they are playing more games outside of the traditional Sunday afternoon timeslot. Theismann pointed out the drastic differences in how the games are broadcast.
“They’ve drifted away (from tradition). I mean, when you look at all the different streaming services and all the different networks, it used to be ABC, NBC, and CBS, but that doesn’t exist anymore. There only used to be those TV channels where you could watch things other than sports only existed then,” Theismann told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.
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Former NFL player Joe Theismann talks with sportscaster Chris Collinsworth before the game between the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., on Nov. 2, 2025. (Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
“Now, we’re in a time and a place where the opportunity for the owners to make lots of money from different entities, from YouTube, from Amazon, from Peacock.”
Theismann said fans used to look forward to Sundays, but now there are games seemingly all the time.
“Sunday is something you would look forward to sitting down to because you really didn’t have an option. Now you have options on Monday night, Thursday night, Wednesday night, God only knows, Tuesday night, Saturday evening. If you’re a fan of the NFL, you’re going to find the game,” Theismann said.
The opening game of the 2026 season will be on Wednesday this season, with the second game being played in Melbourne, Australia, on a Thursday. The NFL introduced a Thanksgiving Eve game this year, adding another Wednesday game to the schedule.
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Super Bowl champion quarterback Joe Theismann delivers the keynote address during the 16th Annual YMCA of the Palm Beaches Prayer Breakfast at The Breakers Palm Beach on Dec. 11, 2025. (DAMON HIGGINS/PALM BEACH DAILY NEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
There will also be NFL games on Friday this year, as the league has gone forth with its fourth annual Black Friday game. The NFL also has three games scheduled on Christmas Day, which is a Friday.
Once the college football regular season ends in mid-December, there will also be Saturday games.
Theismann did say the NFL now has gotten fans easier access to watch more games, which he considers a good thing.
“It gives you a chance to find the game that you want to watch now. You don’t have to read about it the next day. So, in one regard it’s grown the NFL and the other side of it, yeah, would we all like things to be a little bit like they used to be? Maybe. But I believe in the progressive as a progressive individual, but life is changing. You have to adapt and change with it,” Theismann said.
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Former player Joe Theismann speaks during the announcement of the Washington Football Team’s name change to the Washington Commanders at FedExField in Landover, Md., on Feb. 2, 2022. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
American Century Championship
This will be the 37th American Century Championship, and Joe Theismann has played in 36 of them. He said he used to be a 2-handicap, but is now a nine, as he doesn’t hit the ball as far. He will look to turn back the clock when he plays in the tournament from July 10-12 at Edgewood Golf Course in Lake Tahoe.
He said the American Century Championship is the lone thing that you really want to participate in.
“The American Century Championship has evolved to one of those things that, if you love golf at all, and you happen to be in that quote-unquote celebrity world, it’s the thing you really want to participate in. You get to measure your game. You get to pull back the curtain on so many wonderful people, and you get to see those that you watch on TV because I’m a fan of everything. But now you get a chance to see them up close and personal, and you get a chance to meet them and get to know them, and it’s exciting,” Theismann said.
The 76-year-old said he gets to visit people on the range. He mentioned Jerry Rice, Tony Romo and Miles Teller as people he has had conversations with, calling himself a “fanboy” of Teller’s.
Theismann said “Top Gun: Maverick” is his favorite movie of all time.
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Former Notre Dame quarterback Joe Theismann waves to the crowd during a college football game between Notre Dame and Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend on Oct. 12, 2024. (MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
The tournament has raised more than $8 million for regional and national charities. American Century Investments donates 40% of its profits to the Stowers Institute for Medical Research and activates fundraising at the tournament to drive direct donations to Stowers each year. Theismann credited CEO Jonathan Thomas for the tournament’s charitable work.
Theismann credited CEO Jonathan Thomas for the tournament’s charitable work.
The tournament will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
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