Yes, you can watch NFL Sunday Ticket through other services

NFL Sunday Ticket is sold separately from YouTube TV. You do not need a YouTube TV subscription to buy Sunday Ticket — you can purchase it directly from the NFL or through other providers. The service is available as a standalone product, meaning you can watch Sunday games without committing to a full cable or streaming TV package.

The main routes are buying directly from the NFL, purchasing through a participating wireless carrier, or getting it bundled with certain other services. Each option has different costs, blackout rules, and what games you can actually watch.

Key Takeaways

  • NFL Sunday Ticket can be bought as a standalone subscription directly from the NFL without YouTube TV or any other service.
  • Some wireless carriers like T-Mobile and Verizon offer Sunday Ticket as part of their phone or internet plans at no extra cost or discounted rates.
  • Local and nationally televised games are blacked out on Sunday Ticket, so you still need another way to watch your team's prime-time games.
  • The NFL's official Sunday Ticket website shows you which games are available in your area before you pay.

Buying NFL Sunday Ticket directly from the NFL

The NFL sells Sunday Ticket through its official website. You create an account, enter your address so the system can show you which out-of-market games are available in your region, and then choose between a monthly or full-season plan. Payment is handled directly with the NFL, not through a third party.

The service streams on phones, tablets, computers, and some smart TVs through the official NFL app or a web browser. You do not need YouTube TV, a cable login, or any other subscription to watch — just the Sunday Ticket purchase itself. Games are available on Sunday afternoons and some Thursday nights, depending on the NFL schedule.

Getting Sunday Ticket through a wireless carrier

T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T have offered NFL Sunday Ticket as part of their phone or internet plans. T-Mobile has included it free for some customers on certain plans. Verizon has offered it at a discount or bundled with Verizon Fios or 5G Home internet. AT&T has made it available through DirecTV Stream.

The exact offer changes year to year and depends on which plan you have. If you are already a customer with one of these carriers, log into your account or call their customer service line to see whether Sunday Ticket is included or available at a reduced price. You do not need to buy it separately if your carrier is offering it as part of your existing service.

Understanding blackout rules and local games

NFL Sunday Ticket does not show games that are broadcast locally in your area or nationally on CBS, Fox, or ESPN. If your team plays a game on Sunday afternoon that is being shown on local TV in your market, you cannot watch it through Sunday Ticket — you have to use the local broadcast or another service that carries it.

This means Sunday Ticket is most useful if you want to watch out-of-market teams. If you live in New York but want to watch Kansas City games, Sunday Ticket will show those. But if you live in Kansas City and your team is playing at home on Sunday afternoon, the local CBS or Fox broadcast takes priority, and Sunday Ticket blacks it out.

Comparing costs across different routes

Buying directly from the NFL costs vary depending on whether you pay monthly or for the full season upfront. The monthly option is more expensive per month but lets you cancel anytime. The full-season option costs less overall but requires paying for the entire year at once.

If your wireless carrier includes it free or discounted, that is usually the cheapest option. Check your carrier's website or call them before buying directly from the NFL. Some carriers only offer it to new customers or customers on specific plans, so your may be able to access depends on what service you already have.

Streaming devices and app requirements

You can watch Sunday Ticket on most devices: iPhones, Android phones, iPads, computers with a web browser, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, and some Samsung smart TVs. The NFL app is available in the app store for each device. You log in with the account you created when you bought Sunday Ticket, and then you can stream games.

Not all smart TVs are supported, so check the NFL's device list before you buy if you plan to watch mainly on your television. Casting from a phone or computer to a Chromecast or AirPlay-compatible TV is also an option if your TV itself is not listed as compatible.

What happens if your team is not in your market

Sunday Ticket is designed for people who want to watch teams outside their local area. When you enter your address during signup, the NFL's system determines which games are available to you based on your location. Out-of-market games show up in your schedule; local and nationally televised games do not.

If you move during the season, your available games may change. Some people use a VPN to change their apparent location, but the NFL's terms of service prohibit this, and doing so could result in your account being suspended or cancelled.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need YouTube TV to watch NFL Sunday Ticket?

No. Sunday Ticket is sold separately and can be purchased on its own without YouTube TV or any other service. You can buy it directly from the NFL or through a wireless carrier if they offer it as part of your plan.

Can I watch my local team's games with Sunday Ticket?

Not if the game is broadcast locally or nationally. Sunday Ticket blacks out games shown on CBS, Fox, ESPN, or your local affiliate. You would need to watch those games through the local broadcast or another service that carries them.

What if I only want to watch for a few weeks?

The NFL offers a monthly plan option in addition to full-season pricing. Monthly plans cost more per month but let you cancel anytime, so you can subscribe for just the weeks you want to watch.

Can I watch Sunday Ticket on my smart TV?

Most newer smart TVs are supported through the NFL app, but not all. Check the NFL's device compatibility list before you buy. If your TV is not listed, you can cast or mirror from a phone or computer instead.

What if my wireless carrier offers Sunday Ticket?

Check your carrier's website or call customer service to see if it is included in your plan or available at a discount. If it is, you do not need to buy it separately from the NFL. The offer varies by carrier and plan type.