NBC Sports will open the NFL’s “biggest season ever” with an expanded pregame NFL Kickoff special, on Thursday, Sept. 9 beginning at 7 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

“We are excited to increase our NFL Kickoff coverage with an expanded pregame show on NBC and Peacock on the season’s opening Thursday,” said Pete Bevacqua, Chairman, NBC Sports. “This season culminates with an NBC Super Bowl, so we are thrilled to bring more NFL content to fans as well as our affiliates.”

The pregame show – a special edition of Football Night in America on location at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa – will feature the FNIA team’s insights and analysis on the upcoming season, portions of Ed Sheeran’s 2021 Kickoff performance from Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park in Tampa, and the Buccaneers’ championship moment. NFL Network will simulcast the show beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The 2021 NFL season will then kick off (8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock) as Tom Brady and the Super Bowl-champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers host Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys.
Three days later on Sunday, Sept. 12, it’s the debut of NBC’s Sunday Night Football, primetime television’s #1 show for an unprecedented 10 consecutive years, as fans will get their first look at the sights and sounds of the new and spectacular SoFi Stadium with a full crowd in attendance, as well as the Rams debut of quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Rams host Khalil Mack and Chicago Bears, who welcome two new quarterbacks in Andy Dalton and first-round draft pick Justin Fields.