NFL Playoff Football Is Getting More Expensive — And Broncos Owner Greg Penner’s Comments Have Sparked a League-Wide Reckoning

DENVER – For generations, the NFL playoffs have been a shared American ritual. Families gathered in living rooms, sports bars overflowed with fans, and entire cities planned their weekends around kickoff times. As this year’s Wild Card round approaches, that tradition is being tested. More than ever, fans are realizing that watching every playoff game now requires multiple paid subscriptions, transforming what was once a universal experience into a costly and fragmented one.

That frustration moved squarely into the national spotlight when Greg Penner, owner of the Denver Broncos, publicly raised concerns about the league’s current media and broadcast strategy. Penner’s remarks, viewed by many as a direct challenge to the vision overseen by Commissioner Roger Goodell, quickly ignited debate across the NFL. Fans, media analysts, and league insiders began asking the same question: has the NFL pushed its pursuit of revenue too far?

At the heart of the controversy is the league’s increasingly fragmented streaming ecosystem. To watch every Wild Card matchup, fans may need access to ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, Paramount+, and Fox’s streaming service. When combined, these subscriptions can exceed $85 per month — a price point many believe undermines the accessibility that helped football become America’s most popular sport.

Penner’s concerns reflect a growing belief among owners and fans alike that the NFL risks drifting away from its core audience. While record-setting media deals have fueled unprecedented profits, critics argue that financial growth should not come at the expense of inclusivity. “Football has always been about bringing people together,” one fan wrote online. “Now it feels like you need a spreadsheet just to figure out where the games are.” That sentiment has echoed loudly throughout playoff week.

From a business perspective, the league’s approach mirrors broader shifts in media consumption. Younger viewers increasingly watch on mobile platforms, and streaming partners offer global reach that traditional television cannot. Spreading games across platforms maximizes broadcast rights value and taps into diverse audiences. Yet the unintended consequences are becoming harder to ignore: casual fans skip games, older viewers feel left behind, and lower-income households are effectively priced out of the full playoff experience.

Amid mounting backlash, reports indicate the NFL is exploring the possibility of a league-operated streaming platform that could offer select playoff games for free or at a reduced cost. While the concept remains in its early stages and skepticism persists, the discussion has reached the highest levels of league leadership. As the playoffs unfold, the drama now extends beyond the field — raising a defining question of whether the NFL can balance profit with principle without losing the fans who built the game.