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Super Bowl champion Joe Theismann said the NFL has left behind traditions.
The NFL has expanded their prime schedule to include holidays and overseas games, meaning they play more games outside of the traditional Sunday afternoon. 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 used to be only those TV channels where you could watch things other than sports that only existed back then,” Theismann told Pakinomist 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 the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., on Nov. 2, 2025. (Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
“Now we’re in a time and place where the owners have the opportunity to make a lot of money from different entities, from YouTube, from Amazon, from Peacock.”
Theismann said fans used to look forward to Sundays, but now there are seemingly games all the time.
“Sunday is something you would look forward to sitting down because you really didn’t have an opportunity. Now you have opportunities Monday night, Thursday night, Wednesday night, God knows, Tuesday night, Saturday night. If you’re a fan of the NFL, you’ve got to find the game,” Theismann said.
The opening match of the 2026 season will be on Wednesday this season, with the second match 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 ahead with its fourth annual Black Friday game. The NFL also has three games scheduled on Christmas Day, which is a Friday.
When college football’s regular season ends in mid-December, there will also be Saturday games.
Theismann said the NFL has now given fans easier access to watch more games, which he considers a good thing.
“It gives you a chance to find the game you want to see now. You don’t have to read about it the next day. So in one sense it’s grown the NFL and the other side of it, well, do we all wish things were a little bit like they used to be? Maybe. But I believe in the progressive as a progressive individual, but life changes. You have to adapt and change with it.”
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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 July 10-12 tournament at Edgewood Golf Course in Lake Tahoe.
He said the American Century Championship is the only thing you really want to be in.
“The American Century Championship has evolved into one of those things that, if you love golf at all and you happen to be in that unquote celebrity world, that’s what you really want to be a part of. You get to measure your game. You get to pull back the curtain on so many wonderful people and you get to see everything that those you watch on TV get a chance at and you’re a personal fan of. A chance to meet them and get to know them, and that’s exciting,” Theismann said.
The 76-year-old said he is going to visit people on the field. He mentioned Jerry Rice, Tony Romo and Miles Teller as people he has had conversations with and called himself a “fanboy” of Teller.
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.
