In a surprising turn of events, the NFL has decided to introduce a Christmas game in 2024, despite earlier claims of no such plans. CBS Sports’ leading NFL insider, Jonathan Jones, has revealed that not only will the league schedule a game on this festive day, which falls on a Wednesday, but fans can look forward to a doubleheader, offering twice the excitement.
This decision comes as a reversal from the league’s stance in December, when Hans Schroeder, the NFL’s executive vice president for media distribution, expressed that Tuesday or Wednesday games were not being considered, especially so close to the postseason. Schroeder emphasized the league’s focus on the playoff race and maintaining competitive equity, dismissing the idea of midweek football.
Historically, the NFL has steered clear of Wednesday games, making the upcoming Christmas doubleheader a notable exception. This will mark only the third instance in 75 years that the NFL has hosted a Wednesday game, and the first time since 1936 that two games have been scheduled on a Wednesday. The rarity of such scheduling highlights the league’s traditional avoidance of midweek games, with the only other instances being in 2012, to avoid clashing with the Democratic National Convention, and in 2020, when a game was rescheduled due to COVID-19 related issues.
The decision to host games on Christmas reflects the NFL’s recognition of the holiday’s potential for drawing viewers. The league’s venture into Christmas games has proven to be a massive success, with a tripleheader in 2023 attracting an average of 28.7 million viewers, making them some of the most-watched regular-season games of the year. This success has undoubtedly played a role in the league’s change of heart regarding the 2024 Christmas schedule.
Teams participating in the Christmas doubleheader will have a quick turnaround, playing on Saturday in Week 16 before taking the field again for the Christmas game in Week 17. This scheduling decision underscores the NFL’s commitment to maintaining the tradition of holiday games, which has been a regular feature since 1989 and became an annual occurrence starting in 2020.
The NFL’s embrace of Christmas games, culminating in the planned doubleheader for 2024, highlights the league’s adaptability and willingness to break from tradition to cater to its audience. As the NFL continues to explore new ways to engage fans, the Christmas doubleheader is poised to become a new holiday tradition, eagerly anticipated by football enthusiasts across the nation.