You’re stuck in the car. It’s 4:15 PM on a Sunday, the sun is hitting the dashboard just right, and your team is currently sitting on the opponent’s five-yard line with ten seconds left. You reach for the dial. Suddenly, it hits you—you have no idea what the actual radio channel for NFL games is in this zip code. We've all been there. It’s a frantic scramble through static-filled AM stations, hoping to hear the cadence of a familiar quarterback instead of a mattress commercial.
Radio is still king for football. There is something about the frantic, high-energy play-by-play that television just can’t replicate. On TV, you see the tackle. On the radio, you feel the collision through the speaker. But finding the right frequency isn't as straightforward as it used to be. Between national broadcasts, local team affiliates, and the massive shift toward digital streaming, the "channel" is moving target.
The SiriusXM Monopoly and Why It Matters
If you want the most consistent experience, you basically have to talk about SiriusXM. They are the official satellite radio partner of the league. It’s not just one channel; it’s a whole neighborhood of them.
SiriusXM NFL Radio (Channel 88) is the 24/7 hub. It’s where guys like Bill Polian and Pat Kirwan break down roster moves until their voices go hoarse. But for the actual games? That’s where it gets specific. Every single NFL team has its own dedicated feed on SiriusXM. Usually, the home team broadcast is on one channel and the away team is on the neighboring one. This is huge because, let’s be honest, listening to the "other" team’s announcers is a special kind of torture when you’re losing.
The app has changed the game, too. You don't even need the hardware in your car anymore. If you've got a phone and a data connection, you can pull up the specific "home" broadcast for any game in the league. Honestly, it’s the most reliable way to ensure you aren't stuck listening to a neutral national broadcast that doesn't care about your team's third-string linebacker as much as you do.
Westwood One: The National Standard
Maybe you don't want to pay for a subscription. I get it. That’s where Westwood One comes in. These guys have been the national radio home of the NFL for decades. If it's a "big" game—think Monday Night Football, Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, or the entire postseason—Westwood One is the one producing the audio.
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They syndicate to hundreds of local AM and FM stations across the country. This is why you can be driving through rural Nebraska and still hear Kevin Harlan’s legendary voice calling a touchdown.
- Monday Night Football: Broadcast nationally via Westwood One affiliates.
- Sunday Night Football: Same deal.
- The Super Bowl: This is their crown jewel.
But there’s a catch. Westwood One doesn't usually broadcast every single 1:00 PM regional game. For those, you have to look local.
Local Affiliates: The Heart of the Fanbase
Every NFL team has a "Flagship Station." This is usually a powerful FM or AM station in the team’s home city. For the Green Bay Packers, it’s WTMJ in Milwaukee. For the Dallas Cowboys, it’s KRLD-FM (The Fan). These stations then "branch out" to smaller stations in the surrounding states.
Local broadcasts are better. Period. You get the "homers." You get the announcers who have followed the team through the training camp drama and the practice squad elevations. They know the history. When you're looking for the radio channel for NFL games involving your specific team, you should search for the "[Team Name] Radio Network affiliate list." Most teams maintain a PDF or a webpage listing every single town and frequency that carries their games. It’s a lifesaver for road trips.
The Problem with Digital Geofencing
Here is something that trips people up constantly: the "Listen Live" button on a station’s website. You might find the local station in Pittsburgh that carries the Steelers, but if you try to stream it on your laptop while you’re in California, it might be blacked out.
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The NFL is very protective of its digital rights. Local stations are often only allowed to broadcast the game over the actual airwaves (the physical antenna). If they stream it online, they have to use "geofencing" to make sure only people in the local market can hear it. If you’re outside that zone, you’ll often hear a looped recording of music or a generic talk show instead of the kickoff. It’s frustrating, but it’s the reality of sports contracts in 2026.
NFL+ and the Death of the Dial
The league saw how much people wanted a one-stop shop for audio and created NFL+. This is their internal subscription service. For a few bucks a month, you get every single local and national radio broadcast on your phone.
I’ve used this when I’m at my kid’s soccer game and want to keep one earbud in. It’s probably the cleanest "modern" version of the radio experience. You don't have to worry about static, and you don't have to worry about finding a local frequency. You just tap the game and choose which "feed" you want—Home, Away, or National. It’s pretty seamless, though it does rely on your 5G signal. If you're in a dead zone, you’re still going to wish you had a good old-fashioned AM receiver.
Why the AM Band Won't Die
You’ve probably noticed that many NFL games are still tucked away on the AM dial. There’s a technical reason for this. AM signals travel much further than FM signals, especially at night. This is known as "skywave propagation." Back in the day, people could pick up games from hundreds of miles away once the sun went down.
Even now, big sports talk stations (like WFAN in New York or WSCR in Chicago) use massive 50,000-watt transmitters. You can be three states away and still catch the post-game show if the weather is clear. If you’re hunting for a game and your FM scan is coming up empty, switch over to AM and scan between 560 and 780. Usually, the "big" sports stations live on that lower end of the dial.
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Spanish Language Broadcasts
The NFL has made a massive push into Spanish-language radio over the last few years. Entravision and other partners now carry a huge slate of games. Many teams, like the Raiders, Rams, and Cardinals, have incredibly high-energy Spanish radio teams that are honestly worth listening to even if you only understand half of what they're saying. The passion is unmatched. These are usually found on specific Spanish-language AM stations in major metropolitan areas.
How to Actually Find Your Game Right Now
If you are currently looking for a game, don't just search "NFL radio." It's too broad. Instead, follow this specific hierarchy to find the right channel:
- Check the Official Team App: Most teams (like the Seahawks or Eagles) have a "Listen" button directly in their official app. Often, this is the most direct way to get the local call if you are within the geographic market.
- Use the TuneIn App: TuneIn has a massive partnership with the NFL. While some of it is behind a "Premium" paywall, it’s often the easiest interface for browsing by team.
- Search for "Flagship Station": If you want to use a physical radio, search "Cleveland Browns flagship station." It will give you a frequency like 92.3 FM. If you're near that city, that's your winner.
- Westwood One Station Finder: Their website has a tool where you can plug in your zip code and it will tell you exactly which local station is carrying the national broadcast (Sunday/Monday night games).
The Nuance of Post-Game Coverage
The "radio channel for NFL" isn't just about the four quarters of play. The real value is often the two hours after the game. Local flagship stations run long-form call-in shows where fans lose their minds after a loss. This is "appointment listening" for many. If you're listening on a national feed (like SiriusXM's general channel), you get a broad overview. But if you find the local affiliate's stream, you get the raw, unfiltered emotion of the local market.
Keep in mind that some newer cars are actually removing AM radio from the dashboard (especially EVs because of electromagnetic interference). If you’re in one of those, your "radio channel" is essentially going to be an app-based experience via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. In that case, the NFL+ app or the SiriusXM app is your best friend.
Practical Steps for Your Next Game Day
Stop guessing and start preparing before the kickoff. If you're going to be traveling, download the SiriusXM or NFL+ app ahead of time and make sure you're logged in. Data roaming can be a pain, so if you're going into the mountains, check for those Westwood One AM affiliates.
Map out the "Flagship" station for your team and save the frequency in your car's presets. For example, if you're a Patriots fan, keep 98.5 The Sports Hub saved. Even if you're out of range, having that starting point helps you find the "repeater" stations nearby. Radio remains the most resilient way to follow the league, and with a little bit of prep, you'll never have to sit in silence during a two-minute drill again. High-quality audio is out there; you just have to know which part of the airwaves to claim.