YouTube’s NFL coverage winning over Gen Z viewers, claims CEO Neal Mohan

YouTube’s NFL coverage is proving to be a hit with Gen Z viewers, according to CEO Neal Mohan. Speaking about the platform’s growing role in sports streaming, Mohan said broadcasting NFL games on YouTube is helping the league connect with a younger, digital-first audience.

With highlights, livestreams, and exclusive content tailored for mobile consumption, the NFL’s presence on YouTube has become a key part of its outreach strategy.

Mohan noted that Gen Z fans are engaging with the sport in new ways - through shorts, creator reactions, and interactive content - making YouTube an essential bridge between the league and its next generation of fans.


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In a recent conversation with Ankler Media founder Janice Min, Mohan said that the NFL’s presence on YouTube enables games to exist alongside a wide array of creator-driven sports content - the very type of material that younger audiences actively seek out on the platform.

"We actually aged down the NFL’s audience on our platform," claimed Mohan.

When YouTube secured the rights to NFL Sunday Ticket, it didn’t just make the service more accessible to those previously limited by DirecTV - it also created a gateway to a younger audience.

While Sunday Ticket remains a premium subscription mainly appealing to die-hard fans, YouTube's broader platform reach offers the NFL a chance to engage new viewers.

YouTube CEO further highlighted that the upcoming Week One matchup between the Chiefs and Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, set to stream for free globally on September 5, marks a major milestone. By removing paywalls and broadcasting to a worldwide audience, the NFL hopes to draw in a fresh, younger fan base.