The 10 Best Apps for NFL Fans

By Kristi Dosh

We’ve all got to be pretty creative this season in the way we watch the game. No hot dogs and cornhole tournaments in the stadium parking lot this year. What’s the good news? There are a bunch of great apps that can help fans engage and stay on top of every play of the 2020-2021 NFL season. Follow breaking NFL news, advice for your fantasy team, awesome replays, and cool ways to share your football passion with your kids. Check out the apps for every kind of fan.

NFL

For the don’t-want-to-miss-a-single-play fan

The official app for the league, the NFL mobile app allows fans to watch live local and primetime games. It also features highlights from around the league, the latest NFL news, stats and more. The Game Center delivers up-to-the minute scoring, in-game highlights, and drive charts. Select your favorite team and watch video content from that team or replay recent games.

Within this app, you can also access NFL Game Pass subscription content, NFL Network, and NFL RedZone if you’re an eligible subscriber.

NFL Network

For the channel surfer 

Don’t want all the bells and whistles of the NFL app? The NFL Network app will allow you to focus exclusively on NFL Network and NFL RedZone content.

The NFL Network app gives you access to all preseason games (either live or re-aired), live Thursday Night Football Games, and coverage of NFL events such as the NFL Scouting Combine, NFL Draft, Free Agency, and NFL Training Camp. You can also watch NFL Network shows like “NFL Total Access,” “A Football Life,” “Good Morning Football,” “NFL GameDay,” and more.

Eligible subscribers also get access to live stream NFL RedZone every Sunday during the regular season.

NFL Game Pass

For the fan who doesn’t have time to watch it all

Ever wish you had time to watch more games? The NFL Game Pass app is the answer. Replays are available for every game, condensed down into approximately 45 minutes. Want to really get into the nitty gritty details? You’ll also have access to the exclusive All-22 angle Coaches Film footage.

Another fun feature of NFL Game Pass is the ability to listen to the localized radio feed of your favorite team. You’ll also get access to NFL Originals, including previous seasons of “Hard Knocks,” “A Football Life,” and “Mic’d Up.”

ESPN Fantasy Sports

For every kind of fantasy player

The ESPN Fantasy Sports app is routinely recognized as one of the top fantasy sports apps. Whether you want to form your own league with family and friends or join a public league, it’s easy to use no matter your skill level. Looking for expert analysis? Get player rankings, projections, and analysis from noted ESPN experts like Matthew Berry. 

This app goes beyond just football and gives users the opportunity to predict the winners from sports biggest matchups each day in “Streak” where you’re judged based on how many correct picks you can make in a row. Players can win cash and other prizes. You can also test your sports knowledge within the app against ESPN experts, friends, family, and other fans.

DraftKings Daily Fantasy Football

For the busy fantasy football player

For some fans, it’s not enough to just watch the games–you want to play along. But, you’re worried you don’t have the time to commit to an entire fantasy football season. The DraftKings Daily Fantasy Football app lets you join in on the fun anytime with daily games. With this free app, you can win real cash prizes all season long.

DraftKings is the Official Daily Fantasy Partner of the NFL and allows you to play in public contests or in private contests with your friends. New to the NFL fantasy game? DraftKings offers special beginners-only contests to help you learn the ropes.

Fantasy News & Alerts

For the experienced fantasy football player

There are so many apps these days for playing NFL fantasy football, but how about one dedicated to player and team news that helps you stay updated so you can make the best decisions for your roster? The Fantasy News & Alerts app from FantasyPros features real-time news and in-depth fantasy analysis. You can follow the players you care about and even enable notifications to make sure you see the latest breaking news. This will allow you to react quickly to injuries on your roster and maybe even snap up someone who hits the wire.

Fantasy Football My Playbook

For the fantasy football player beginner

Not everyone is a natural expert when it comes to fantasy football, but you can still dominate your league with the right advice and tools. Fantasy Football My Playbook from FantasyPros gives you advice ranging from who to start and sit, to the top available players, expert rankings, projections, and more. All you have to do is import your league to receive custom news, rankings, and analysis. See side-by-side player comparisons before you choose your starters, get an analysis of a proposed trade, and even see projections for how your team stacks up against your league.

This app supports team imports from Yahoo, ESPN, CBS, NFL.com, MyFantasyLeague, Sleeper, FFPC, FFWC, DataForceFF, Fanstar, FleaFlicker, Fantrax, RT Sports, NFC, and Reality Sports Online.

Madden NFL 21

For the gamer

Experience Madden NFL on-the-go with the Madden NFL 21 mobile app. You can sync the app with your EA account and earn in-game rewards. Become an NFL GM and play through an NFL season for a chance to take your team to the Super Bowl, or take on Madden’s Masters where you can build a team of NFL Superstars and Legends. You can even compete with friends in Arena H2H or Overdrive.

There is a brand-new mode called The Yard: Underground in the mobile app this year, where small-sided, fast-paced gameplay is featured in a single-player 5v5 mode played in locations across the world. In this mode, looking good is as important as playing well, so get ready to create and customize your avatar with fresh swag. You’ll even be able to use your avatar across your console, PC, and mobile. Just make sure your internet connection is even faster and more reliable than your players to prevent any lags or interruptions, especially if the rest of your family is online, too.

Retro Bowl

For the nostalgic gamer

For a throwback experience, check out the Retro Bowl app. With a fun retro look, this mobile app simulates both gameplay and team management. Before a game, you have to manage things like player morale, coaches, and facility quality in addition to your roster. If you’re doing things right, your star players can improve while they’re on your team. When you add new players, you’ll see two ratings: one for where they are now and one for what they could potentially be.

Although the simplistic nature of the app means there are a lot of shortcuts—for example, your only two options on every play are to throw to a receiver or toss to a running back and you can’t call your own plays—it’s still a fun alternative to other mobile NFL games if you want to play something quick and easy.

NFL Blitz

For the collector

If trading cards are your thing, check out the NFL Blitz app from Panini, the only officially licensed trading card and collecting app of the NFL and NFL Players Association. This digital trading card app lets you collect thousands of officially licensed digitally autographed cards, which you can then use to enter real-time contests and score points as the players on the field do.

You can browse the inventory, make offers, and trade with other fans to complete your sets or find rare cards. New digital cards are released daily.

NFL PLAY 60

For the football family

Looking for a way to get your kids involved in the NFL season? The NFL has partnered with the American Heart Association to create the NFL PLAY 60 app. Kids can compete in games with a football twist, such as a game of TAG or Red Light, Green Light. Mini exercises workout your arms, legs and heart, and you can earn additional points in the game when you go on a family walk, ride bikes, or play in the park. Hidden prizes and mystery boxes keep your kids engaged and active. Points can then be used to unlock NFL gear and customize your avatar.

Whether you’re looking for more ways to enjoy this season on your own, ready to spark a little friendly competition between friends, or want to share your love of the game with your kids, these apps will help get you there.