You're sitting there with a glass of eggnog, the tree is lit, and the nagging question hits: is there a football game on Christmas Eve this year? It’s a valid thing to wonder because the NFL is notoriously fickle with its holiday scheduling. One year they own the day; the next, they've vanished like a plate of cookies left for Santa.
Honestly, it all comes down to the calendar. The NFL doesn't have a "fixed" Christmas Eve tradition like it does with Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving, you know exactly what’s happening. You get the Lions, you get the Cowboys, and you get a nightcap. Christmas Eve is different. It's a logistical puzzle that depends entirely on what day of the week December 24th falls on.
The short answer for 2024 and beyond
If you’re looking at the 2024 season, the answer is a resounding yes. Since Christmas Eve 2024 falls on a Tuesday, the league has actually scheduled a special Tuesday night doubleheader. This is a bit of a departure from the norm. Usually, the NFL avoids Tuesdays like the plague because it messes with the players' recovery time and the following week's practice schedule. But the lure of holiday ratings is apparently too strong to pass up.
We’re seeing the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by the Baltimore Ravens facing off against the Houston Texans. It's a massive slate for a Tuesday.
Why the schedule keeps changing
The league's philosophy on holiday games has shifted drastically over the last decade. Historically, the NFL stayed away from Christmas Day to avoid competing with the NBA, which has "owned" December 25th for generations. However, because Christmas Eve often lands on a Sunday, the league frequently finds itself in a position where its biggest broadcasting day of the week coincides with the holiday.
When Christmas Eve is a Sunday, the NFL typically moves the bulk of its Sunday afternoon games to Saturday, December 23rd. They then keep one high-profile game for Sunday Night Football on the 24th. It’s a delicate dance. They want the viewership, but they also have to balance the reality that many fans are traveling or at church services.
Take 2023 as an example. Christmas Eve was a Sunday. The league ran a full slate of afternoon games and then capped it off with a primetime matchup between the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos. It felt like a normal Sunday, just with more tinsel.
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The "Netflix Effect" on holiday football
Something weird happened recently. Netflix entered the chat.
For the 2024-2026 seasons, Netflix secured the rights to stream the Christmas Day games. This deal has ripples that affect whether or not there is a football game on Christmas Eve. To make the Wednesday Christmas Day games work in 2024, the NFL had to schedule the participating teams (Chiefs, Steelers, Ravens, Texans) on the preceding Saturday. Wait, no, that's not quite right—they actually shifted the schedule to ensure these teams had enough rest.
The "short week" is the biggest enemy of quality football. Players hate it. Coaches loathe it. But the TV networks? They love it.
College football’s role on December 24th
You might be surprised to learn that the NFL isn't the only show in town. For years, the Hawaii Bowl was the staple of Christmas Eve. It was glorious. You’d have a random matchup like San Jose State vs. Coastal Carolina kicking off while you were wrapping last-minute gifts.
Sadly, the Hawaii Bowl has moved around the calendar lately. In 2024, the Hawaii Bowl is actually scheduled for December 23rd. This leaves Christmas Eve 2024 almost entirely to the NFL. If you’re a college football purist, you might find the 24th a bit lonely this year, though there’s usually some lower-tier bowl action earlier in the week to tide you over.
High school and regional traditions
In places like Texas or Pennsylvania, football doesn't really stop, but it does take a breather for the holiday. You won't find official high school playoff games on Christmas Eve. The liability and the lack of available staff make it a non-starter.
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However, "Turkey Bowls" and "Reindeer Bowls"—those semi-organized community games—are everywhere. If you can't find a game on TV, walk down to the local park at 10:00 AM. You’ll probably see a bunch of 30-year-olds in mismatched jerseys trying not to blow out their ACLs in the frost.
Is there a football game on Christmas Eve every year?
No. Not always.
If Christmas Eve falls on a Tuesday or Wednesday (and it isn't a year where the NFL is experimenting with odd-day broadcasts), the schedule might be empty. The league generally prefers its standard Thursday, Sunday, Monday rhythm.
The 2025 Outlook
Looking ahead to 2025, Christmas Eve will be on a Wednesday. This is usually a "dead zone" for football. However, because of the ongoing success of holiday streaming, don't be shocked if the league finds a way to shoehorn a game into that slot too. The "Is there a football game on Christmas Eve" question is becoming more of a "How many games are there?" question.
Viewing habits and ratings
Why does the NFL keep pushing into these holidays? Money. Obviously.
Christmas Eve broadcasts consistently pull in massive numbers because everyone is home. It’s the ultimate "passive" viewing experience. Even people who don't care about the playoff race will leave the game on in the background while the family eats. Advertisers know this. A 30-second spot during a Christmas Eve NFL game costs significantly more than a standard mid-season Sunday game.
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What to do if your team is playing
If your team is scheduled for the 24th, it's a blessing and a curse.
- Plan your meal early. If kickoff is at 4:25 PM ET, you don't want to be carving the ham right when your quarterback is leading a two-minute drill.
- Check the streaming platform. Gone are the days when every game was on CBS or FOX. Between Amazon Prime, Peacock, and Netflix, you need to make sure your apps are updated before the game starts.
- Expect the unexpected. Holiday games often feature "resting" players if a team has already clinched a playoff spot. Check the injury report and the clinch scenarios about 48 hours before kickoff.
Practical steps for the 2024 holiday season
To make sure you don't miss a snap, here is what you should actually do right now.
First, verify your local listings. While the national games (like the Tuesday night doubleheader) are set, local blackouts or regional shifts can still happen. Use an app like theScore or ESPN to "favorite" the date December 24th.
Second, if you're traveling, download your streaming apps now. Trying to remember your Netflix password at your in-laws' house while the game is starting is a recipe for a holiday meltdown.
Third, keep an eye on the weather. Christmas Eve games in cities like Chicago, Buffalo, or Green Bay are notorious for "Snow Bowls." These are fun to watch but can lead to ugly, low-scoring games that might not be the high-octane entertainment you were expecting.
The reality is that "is there a football game on Christmas Eve" used to be a "maybe." Now, it's almost a "definitely." The NFL has seen the revenue potential of the holidays and they aren't letting go anytime soon. Whether you love the constant influx of sports or wish they'd give the players a break, the schedule is set. Grab your remote, keep the schedule handy, and enjoy the chaos of holiday football.