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Super Bowl champion Steve Beuerlein said fans’ complaints about the number of services the NFL requires to watch the games are “very legitimate.”
Beuerlein, 61, said he would definitely side with the fans.
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Steve Beuerlein speaks at the JESPYS Awards at JSerra High School in San Juan Capistrano, California on May 29, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Getty Images)
The former Pro Bowl quarterback also talked about how expensive it is for fans to attend NFL games, calling ticket prices exorbitant.
“It’s almost unaffordable for fans to go to a game and take their family to a game these days in most scenarios. There are some owners who do a really good job of being creative and making tickets available to those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford to go, but the cost is so exorbitant these days,” Beuerlein said.
Beuerlein lamented that fans can’t just watch all the games on TV at home for free, calling the NFL’s expansion into streaming services overkill.
“And now to really make it that much more expensive to sit at home and try to get coverage and watch a game on TV. It’s almost a little bit overkill if you ask me. I understand the argument from the fans’ perspective,” he said.
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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Steve Beuerlein plays against the Carolina Panthers in the 1995 Hall of Fame Game at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio on July 29, 1995. (Michael C. Hebert/USA TODAY NETWORK)
Beuerlein said he understands it’s a business but is sympathetic to the fans.
“These owners are always trying to find new ways to create revenue streams because the salaries are certainly going up and it seems like it’s in a never-ending cycle, but I’m certainly sympathetic to the fans,” Beuerlein said.
NFL fans who want access to all games must purchase YouTube TV for “NFL Sunday Ticket” in addition to the expensive subscriptions to all the streaming services the NFL uses to broadcast games.
These streaming services are Amazon Prime, Peacock and Netflix. The combination of these respective services is over $1,500 per year, and that doesn’t include the fees that come with basic cable packages or the high-speed Wi-Fi needed to host the platforms.
‘NFL REDZONE’ HOST SCOTT HANSON SAYS HE UNDERSTANDS THE FRUSTRATION OVER EXPENSIVE STREAMING SUBSCRIPTIONS.
Steve Beuerlein waves at a Netflix event for “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys” at the Egyptian Theater in Los Angeles, California on August 11, 2025. (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
The Justice Department has reportedly opened an investigation into the NFL over its use of streaming services.
A Pakinomist poll in March indicated that 72% of sports fans believe major sporting events should remain free to televise amid reports that the NFL is considering allowing teams to sell the rights to preseason games to streaming services.
FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty credited FCC Chairman Brendan Carr with identifying that “the public interest is no longer served and the need for government immunity is less clear” at a recent news conference.
“In fact, more than 8,000 people submitted comments (to) the FCC, with 98% of those comments expressing frustration with the streaming migration trend and their hope that broadcasting will remain the preeminent platform to watch their favorite teams,” she said.
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Carolina Panthers quarterback Steve Beuerlein throws the ball against the Atlanta Falcons in a 1997 regular season game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on September 7, 1997. (RVR Photos/USA TODAY Sports)
“Getting broadcasting policy right includes empowering broadcasters to respond to this widespread consumer need and ensuring broadcasters’ continued ability to serve communities, not just through sports but other programs as well.”
Beuerlein played 14 seasons in the NFL. He played for the then Los Angeles Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos. He was the backup quarterback when the Cowboys won the Super Bowl in 1992.
He made the Pro Bowl with the Panthers in 1999. In 147 games (102 starts), he completed 56.9% of his passes for 24,046 yards with 147 touchdowns and 112 interceptions.
