ESPN make decision over much loved NFL Network show following fears broadcast might be scrapped

Jul 28, 2026 - 20:15

ESPN have made plenty of changes since acquiring NFL Network, but a beloved show will continue as planned.

The ‘worldwide leader in sports’ acquired the Network for $3 billion in April, with mass layoffs and schedule changes following.

ESPN bought NFL Network for $3 billion, a deal that was finalized in April, 2026

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A celebration of the fact that the NFL season is on the horizon has survived the brutal cuts.

With all 32 teams now back at training camp, and the start of Hard Knocks with the Seattle Seahawks just around the corner – a recent staple of the preseason is on the menu.

For a sixth season in succession, the two networks will partner for the continuation of ‘Back Together Weekend’ – a whistlestop tour around every team across Saturday and Sunday.

Starting at 9am ET on Saturday August 1, during a three-hour edition of NFL Live on ESPN.

At noon ET, coverage of ‘Back Together Weekend’ will shift to NFL Network until 5pm ET.

On Sunday, it’s NFL Network only from 10am to 2pm ET.

It will be the first opportunity for fans to see how their teams are shaping up for the highly-anticipated season ahead.

“Our fans are at the heart of everything we do and Training Camp: Back Together Weekend is an opportunity to celebrate them,” Bobby Gallo, NFL senior vice president of club business development said in a media release.

“We’re thrilled that all clubs continue to create new ways for fans of all ages to engage with their favorite teams through unforgettable experiences that bring them closer to the players, the game and their local communities as we kick off another NFL season.”

Following the shared broadcasting, the pair will unite once again to present the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement ceremony on August 8.

A.J. Brown #1 of the New England Patriots sprints during a minicamp at Gillette Stadium on June 09, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. — Back Together Weekend is fans’ first chance to see how their team is looking ahead of 2026

Drew Brees announces a light heavyweight fight during the UFC 329 event at T-Mobile Arena on July 11, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. — Drew Brees leads the 2026 Hall of Fame Inductees

Quarterback Drew Brees, running back Roger Craig, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, linebacker Luke Kuechly and kicker Adam Vinatieri will be inducted.

This will be followed by the Hall-of-Fame game between the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers – the first game of the NFL preseason.

2026 will be the sixth edition of ‘Back Together Weekend’, and there was concerns that broadcast coverage of the event wouldn’t go ahead.

The announcement comes just days after ESPN implemented massive layoffs of numerous recognizable on-air names.

Ryan Clark was the first to go, fired in the middle of a segment on NFL Live, to which the network has received intense backlash for.

Tom Pelissero, as well as a 30-year veteran and SportsCenter mainstay have also been fired from the network, amongst other names.

Ryan Clark, former NFL safety, Super Bowl champion, and sports analyst for ESPN looks on during the game between the Brooklyn Nets against the Orlando Magic during their game at Barclays Center on January 07, 2026 in New York City. — Ryan Clark and many more were relieved of their duties by the network

Despite the talent cuts and behind-the-scenes uncertainty, ‘Back Together Weekend’ remains on the NFL media calendar.

For fans, the joint broadcast serves as a reassuring sign that even in a rapidly changing landscape of the networks, the tradition of kicking off the football season together isn’t going anywhere, for now.

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