You’re sitting on the couch, jersey on, wings ready, and the clock is ticking. Then the panic hits. You flip to CBS—it’s a sitcom. You check FOX—it’s a cooking show. Honestly, the most frustrating part of being a fan these days isn’t a missed field goal; it’s the scavenger hunt of figuring out what channel are the chiefs on before kickoff.
Between the NFL’s massive broadcast deals and the rise of "exclusive" streaming, tracking down Patrick Mahomes and company has become a legitimate chore. It used to be simple. You had a local station and maybe a Monday night game. Now? You need a spreadsheet and about four different logins.
The Standard Rotation: CBS, FOX, and NBC
For the 2025-2026 season, the "big three" networks still handle the bulk of the heavy lifting. Since the Chiefs are in the AFC, CBS remains their primary home. If it’s a Sunday afternoon and they’re playing another AFC team like the Bills or the Bengals, CBS is your first bet.
But it’s not a guarantee.
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When the Chiefs play an NFC powerhouse—think the Eagles or the Lions—the game often slides over to FOX. And then there’s the prestige of Sunday Night Football. If the game is a primetime banger, you’ll find it on NBC. For those watching without a cord, Peacock mirrors the NBC broadcast, while Paramount+ usually carries whatever game is currently airing on your local CBS affiliate.
The Streaming Curveballs: Amazon and Beyond
This is where things get kinda messy. The NFL has leaned hard into digital exclusives. If the Chiefs are playing on a Thursday, stop looking at your cable guide. They are almost certainly on Amazon Prime Video.
We also saw some weird stuff this past season. Remember the Week 1 opener in Brazil against the Chargers? That was a YouTube/NFL+ exclusive for many. And then there’s the Christmas Day games. In 2025, the Chiefs faced the Broncos on a Thursday holiday, which was also a Prime Video exclusive. Basically, if the game is on a weekday, your smart TV's app store is going to be your best friend.
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How To Check Right Now
If you need to know exactly what channel are the chiefs on for today’s specific matchup, you’ve got to look at the kickoff time.
- 1:00 PM or 4:25 PM ET: Check CBS or FOX. (Local blackout rules apply, so if you're not in the Kansas City market, you might be stuck with whatever game your local station thinks is "more relevant.")
- 8:15 PM ET (Mondays): That’s ESPN or ABC. Usually both, but sometimes just ESPN.
- 8:20 PM ET (Sundays): NBC is your destination.
- 8:15 PM ET (Thursdays): Open the Amazon Prime app.
Out-Of-Market Problems
If you live in, say, New York or Florida, you’ve probably dealt with the "local game" headache. You want the Chiefs, but the local station is showing a divisional blowout instead. In this case, NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV is the only legal way to catch every single Sunday afternoon snap.
If you’re trying to save a few bucks, a high-quality digital antenna is a lifesaver. It pulls in CBS, FOX, and NBC in HD for free. You just won’t get the ESPN or Amazon games that way.
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Actionable Steps for Game Day
Don't wait until five minutes after kickoff to start your search.
- Check the "Chiefs Mobile App": They update the broadcast partners for every game about a week in advance.
- Verify your logins: If the game is on Peacock or Prime, make sure you aren't logged out. Nothing kills the vibe like "Forgot Password" prompts at kickoff.
- Use a TV Listing Site: Websites like 506 Sports provide weekly maps that show exactly which parts of the country are getting which games on CBS and FOX.
Knowing what channel are the chiefs on shouldn't be harder than the game itself. Keep the rotation of CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, and Amazon in mind, and you'll rarely miss a touchdown.