NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell embraced Australian culture by wearing a kangaroo coat during Netflix's pregame show for the league's first regular-season game in Australia. The game featured the Los Angeles Rams against the San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Goodell was presented with the kangaroo-themed costume, complete with a head hood and NFL and Netflix branding, by Netflix host Elle Duncan. Duncan noted that Goodell had previously worn a Santa Claus costume on the streaming service's program and that this attire was chosen to represent the local culture for the Australian event. The commissioner donned the coat, turning to the crowd and receiving cheers.
Netflix began streaming NFL games on Christmas Day 2024, and this event marked the first of the 2026 season broadcast by the platform. Netflix has a slate of games scheduled for the season, including the first-ever Thanksgiving Eve game between the Green Bay Packers and the Rams on November 25, two additional games on Christmas Day, and a Week 18 matchup yet to be announced. The NFL Honors awards show will also be streamed on Netflix prior to the Super Bowl in February.
Goodell, who recently extended his contract through 2030, spoke with CNBC about the NFL's strategy to adapt to evolving fan platforms and global markets. He acknowledged that fans are increasingly moving to various streaming services, and the league is focused on evaluating which partnerships and platforms offer the greatest opportunity to reach fans worldwide. This approach signifies a shift in how the NFL views media distribution, with other platforms like Amazon's Prime Video also set to stream "Thursday Night Football" and Peacock broadcasting an exclusive Week 17 game.