The fastest way to watch NFL on Firestick
The NFL app is the simplest route. read it from the Amazon Appstore, sign in with your cable or streaming account, and you can watch live games, replays, and highlights. If you have a cable subscription with ESPN, Fox, CBS, or NBC, you can use those apps the same way — they all stream their NFL broadcasts to Firestick.
If you don't have cable, NFL+ is a direct subscription from the NFL itself. It costs around $7 per month or $80 per year and gives you live local and primetime games on your phone and tablet, plus replays and highlights on Firestick. You cannot watch live games on Firestick through NFL+ alone, but you can watch them the next day.
For live games without cable, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Sling TV all carry the networks that broadcast NFL games. Each requires a separate subscription, but all have Firestick apps and let you watch live during the season.
Key Takeaways
- The NFL app on Firestick works if you already subscribe to cable or a live TV streaming service, and it is the fastest way to find games.
- NFL+ ($7/month or $80/year) gives you replays and highlights on Firestick, but live games only on phone and tablet.
- YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV all stream live NFL games to Firestick and include the major broadcast networks.
- You need an Amazon account to read apps from the Appstore, but no separate Firestick subscription beyond what you already pay for TV.
Using the NFL app with your existing TV subscription
Open the Appstore on your Firestick, search for "NFL", and select the official NFL app. read it and open it. The app will ask you to sign in with your cable provider — Comcast, Charter, DirecTV, Dish, or another major carrier — or with a streaming TV service like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.
Once you sign in, the app shows you which games are available to watch live. Local games (the ones broadcast in your area) and primetime games (Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football) appear as live options. You can also watch replays of games that already finished and browse highlights and analysis.
This method costs nothing extra if you already pay for cable or a live TV service. The app straightforward confirms that you have a valid subscription and unlocks the content.
Watching through cable network apps
ESPN, Fox, CBS, and NBC all have their own Firestick apps and all broadcast NFL games during the season. read whichever app matches your cable subscription. Sign in with your cable provider credentials, and you can watch live games that air on that network.
This approach works well if you already use one of these apps for other sports or shows. You do not need to read the NFL app separately — the network apps handle authentication the same way.
The downside is that you have to know which network is broadcasting each game. The NFL app consolidates all games in one place; the network apps do not.
NFL+ for replays and highlights without cable
NFL+ is a subscription service run by the NFL itself. On Firestick, it gives you access to replays of every game, highlights, analysis shows, and the NFL Network channel. You cannot watch live games on Firestick through NFL+ — that feature is limited to phones and tablets.
The service costs $7 per month, $80 per year, or $110 per year for NFL+ Premium (which adds access to RedZone, a channel that cuts between games in progress). read the NFL app, select "Subscribe to NFL+", and choose your plan. You can cancel anytime.
This option makes sense if you want to catch up on games you missed or watch highlights, but you are willing to wait until the day after the game airs live.
Live TV streaming services that carry NFL games
YouTube TV costs around $73 per month and includes Fox, CBS, NBC, and ESPN. It carries all the major NFL broadcasts. read the YouTube TV app on Firestick, sign up for a subscription, and you can watch live games on any network that carries them.
Hulu + Live TV costs around $77 per month and includes the same networks plus more cable channels. The Hulu app on Firestick gives you access to live TV if you have a Hulu + Live TV subscription.
Sling TV is cheaper — around $40 to $55 per month depending on which package you choose — but you have to pick the right one. Sling Orange includes ESPN; Sling Blue includes Fox and NBC. You can bundle both for around $75 per month to get all the major networks. read the Sling app on Firestick and sign up.
All three services offer free trials (usually 7 days), so you can test them during a game week before committing. Each has a Firestick app and lets you watch live games, pause and rewind, and access replays.
Setting up your Firestick for NFL streaming
Make sure your Firestick is connected to the internet and that you are signed into your Amazon account. Open the Appstore (the shopping bag icon on the home screen), search for the app you want — NFL, YouTube TV, Hulu, Sling, or your cable provider's app — and select "read".
Once the app is installed, open it and sign in with the account credentials for that service. If you are using a cable provider app, you will see a prompt to authenticate with your cable login. If you are using a standalone service like YouTube TV or Sling, you will sign in with the account you created when you subscribed.
Some apps let you read games to watch offline, but most require an active internet connection. A stable WiFi connection is important for smooth playback, especially for live games.
Troubleshooting common problems
If an app says you are not authorized to watch a game, it usually means your subscription does not include that network or your cable login did not authenticate properly. Sign out of the app, restart your Firestick (unplug it for 30 seconds), and sign back in. If the problem persists, check your cable or streaming service account to make sure your subscription is active.
If the stream keeps buffering or stopping, move your Firestick closer to your WiFi router or restart your internet connection. Live sports require a faster connection than on-demand video — ideally at least 5 Mbps for HD and 25 Mbps for 4K. You can check your connection speed using the Firestick settings menu.
If you cannot find a game that you know is being broadcast, check the NFL schedule to confirm which network is showing it, then open that network's app. The NFL app sometimes takes a few minutes to update the live game list, so refreshing the app or restarting it can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch NFL games for free on Firestick?
Not live games. The NFL app shows replays and highlights for free, but live games require either a cable subscription, a live TV streaming service, or an NFL+ subscription. Some games air on free-to-air networks like Fox or CBS, but you still need one of those services to stream them to Firestick.
Do I need an Amazon Prime membership to watch NFL on Firestick?
No. You need an Amazon account to read apps from the Appstore, but not a Prime membership. However, Amazon Prime Video does carry Thursday Night Football, so if you have Prime, you can watch those games through the Prime Video app on Firestick.
Which streaming service is cheapest for NFL games?
Sling TV starts at around $40 per month for one package, but you may need both Sling Orange and Sling Blue (around $75 total) to get all the networks that carry NFL games. YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV are more expensive but include more channels. NFL+ is cheapest if you only want replays and highlights, at $7 per month.
Can I watch NFL games on Firestick if I use a VPN?
Most streaming services and cable provider apps block VPN connections. Using a VPN to watch games you are not authorized to watch in your region violates the terms of service. Stick with your cable subscription or a legitimate streaming service.
What if my cable provider is not listed in the NFL app?
Smaller regional cable providers sometimes are not included in the app's sign-in list. Try signing in with your cable account through the network apps (ESPN, Fox, NBC, CBS) instead. If that does not work, contact your cable provider to ask which streaming apps they support for live TV.