Netflix adds Tom Pelissero to 2026 NFL coverage

Netflix said Tuesday it has hired veteran NFL reporter Tom Pelissero for the company’s NFL broadcasts in 2026, assigning him to sideline reporting across a slate of five games scheduled on the platform.

The hiring was announced soon after Pelissero’s departure from NFL Network. Netflix’s statement said he was released last month even though he had one year left on his contract.

Pelissero’s on-site role for Netflix’s five NFL games

Netflix said Pelissero will be part of its Netflix said Pelissero will be part of its on-location reporting team for the company’s NFL coverage in 2026. The streamer described his duties as sideline reporting connected to the five-game schedule it referenced. The company did not outline how the broadcasts will be produced, how the five games will be scheduled or presented, or which other on-air personalities may be added. Because of those omissions, the overall format and tone of the coverage remain unclear beyond Pelissero’s role and the number of games Netflix cited. Audio plans tied to The Ringer and existing podcasts Alongside the on-field assignment, Netflix said Pelissero will also take on audio work linked to The Ringer. He is set to co-host The Ringer NFL Show and provide weekly contributions to The Bill Simmons Podcast.

Netflix noted that The Ringer has a distribution partnership with the streaming service, and framed the combined sideline and podcast work as a way to connect live sports coverage with established audio programming. The company presented the arrangement as a coordinated effort, pairing event-based reporting with recurring discussion and analysis in podcast form.

Competition for sports talent as streaming expands live events Netflix’s announcement comes as streaming platforms increasingly pursue live sports and seek familiar reporting voices to support those efforts. In its statement, the company positioned Pelissero’s addition as a way to bolster engagement and credibility for its NFL coverage ahead of the 2026 games.

Netflix also emphasized the linkage between live reporting and podcast appearances, suggesting the is a more unified content experience for subscribers before and during the 2026 broadcasts.

Key details Netflix did not disclose

Netflix did not say how often Pelissero will appear on the podcasts beyond describing weekly contributions to The Bill Simmons Podcast . The company also did not announce any additional NFL-related programming, provide a list of further hires, or indicate whether more staffing decisions will be made closer to 2026.

For now, Netflix’s clearest commitments are the five-game schedule it referenced for 2026 and Pelissero’s defined responsibilities across sideline reporting and audio appearances, with other elements of the production still unconfirmed.