League Spotlights Global Growth with Historic Long Weekend; Defending Super Bowl Champions Kansas City Chiefs Hosting Thursday; NFL’s First-Ever Game in South America on Friday; Epic Matchups on Sunday and Monday
NEW YORK, NY – To celebrate the highly anticipated return of football, the 2024 NFL Kickoff presented by YouTube TV is set to be the biggest Kickoff weekend ever, with four days of games and global events designed to engage fans worldwide.
To excite fans for the start of the season, the NFL recently unveiled its season-long brand campaign for 2024, titled “This Is Football Country.” The campaign highlights the passion and community spirit that football cultivates, while celebrating the unifying power of the game around the world. The spot conveys the palpable hype that comes with the return of football, and the action begins on Thursday, Sept. 5, as the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, face the Baltimore Ravens at 8:20 p.m. ET, with live coverage on NBC and Peacock.
The excitement continues Friday night when the Green Bay Packers take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the league’s first-ever game in South America. Held at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil, this Peacock-exclusive game kicks off at 8:15 p.m. ET and will feature global and Brazilian superstar Anitta as the game’s halftime performer. Kickoff weekend continues with can’t-miss matchups on Sunday and Monday.
“We’re turning up the event excitement and programming to match the energy of our fans worldwide in what promises to be our biggest Kickoff weekend yet,” said Peter O’Reilly, executive vice president of club business, international and league events. “Not only are we expanding to four days of epic matchups, but we’re also making history with our first-ever game in South America, a milestone underscoring the global growth of the sport. This year’s Kickoff is the ultimate football celebration and demonstrates the universal love of the game, setting the tone for what is sure to be an unforgettable season.”
Leading up to the 2024 NFL Kickoff presented by YouTube TV and throughout the weekend will be local activations and community events in Kansas City, broadcast specials on NBC and NFL Network, immersive fanfests with NFL Experience in São Paulo, and much more. Throughout the week in Kansas City, the NFL, along with its partners and local non-profit organizations, will come together to make a positive social impact through a series of events that provide resources and support to underserved communities. In addition, the NFL will also provide financial support to local Kansas City organizations that work with the LGBTQ community, and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
To add to the jam-packed weekend, fans across the globe will celebrate the start of the season with a slate of events hosted by their favorite teams. The Baltimore Ravens are joining the action by hosting their 2024 Watch Party: Kickoff Edition at M&T Bank Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 5, where fans can catch a live performance by platinum-selling artist Quinn XCII before watching the Ravens face the Kansas City Chiefs in an AFC Championship rematch. The Miami Dolphins are bringing Brazil’s best flag football players—including members of the Brazilian National Team and Pro Bowl-winning team—to São Paulo for the historic Packers-Eagles matchup on Friday, Sept. 6. Across the world in Australia, the Philadelphia Eagles are partnering with NFL Australia to host an exciting NFL Kickoff Festival at Bondi Pavilion, blending Brazilian culture with Philadelphia favorites in support of their historic game in São Paulo. In Hamburg, Germany, the Kansas City Chiefs will invite multiple influencers and a super fan to spend the night on the ChampionsHausboot, a houseboat, to watch the live broadcast of the Chiefs-Ravens game. Meanwhile on the West Coast, the Los Angeles Rams are embracing the excitement with their “Royal Tour Watch Party” at the iconic Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Sunday, Sept. 8, where thousands of fans will gather as they watch Los Angeles Rams take on the Detroit Lions.
These events, among many others happening across the league, exemplify the global excitement and anticipation for football’s return. Highlights by day include:
MONDAY, SEPT. 2
2024 NFL Kickoff Preview presented by Lowe’s: Monday, Sept. 2 at 1 p.m. ET, FOX
On Monday, Sept. 2, “2024 NFL Kickoff Preview presented by Lowe’s” airs at 1 p.m. ET on FOX and at 5 p.m. ET on NFL Network. Host Mike Yam and former NFL #1 overall pick and Super Bowl champion David Carr preview the upcoming season. 49ers tight end George Kittle joins to discuss San Francisco’s quest to win it all and the Week 1 primetime matchup on Monday Night Football against Aaron Rodgers and the Jets. The “Good Morning Football” crew – Jamie Erdahl, Kyle Brandt, Akbar Gbajabiamila and Peter Schrager – preview the first-ever NFL game in Brazil between the Packers and Eagles. NFL Media Draft guru Daniel Jeremiah highlights the rookies to watch in 2024. Plus, predictions for Week 1’s biggest games, who will win MVP and who will hoist the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl LIX.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 3
NFL PLAY 60 and American Heart Association Kickoff Event: Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 9:30 a.m. CT, Kansas City, MO
The NFL will team up with the American Heart Association (AHA) to host a special PLAY 60 event at a local elementary school, emphasizing the importance of physical activity to a child’s overall well-being. The NFL Foundation, the Kansas City Chiefs and AHA will also donate CPR kits to local schools as part of AHA’s Nation of Lifesavers initiative, which seeks to increase access to CPR education.
NFL and BoysGrow Kickoff Event: Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. CT, Kansas City, MO
The NFL will partner with BoysGrow, a non-profit organization that mentors Kansas City youth through agricultural entrepreneurship, to host a day of community greening activities through NFL Green – the league’s environmental program. BoysGrow students, local volunteers, Kansas City Chiefs staff, and former players will plant trees, pack food for the community, build herb gardens, participate in mentoring sessions, and more.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 4
Kickoff Eve Presented by Pepsi Zero Sugar: Wednesday, Sept. 4, NBC
On Wednesday, Sept. 4, “NFL Kickoff Eve Presented by Pepsi Zero Sugar” airs at 9 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock live from Los Angeles, with hosts of NFL Network’s Emmy Award-winning “Good Morning Football” Jamie Erdahl, Peter Schrager, Kyle Brandt, Akbar Gbajabiamila and Sherree Burruss. The one-hour show previews the upcoming 2024 NFL season and features interviews with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh. Additionally, NBC Sports’ “Football Night in America” host Maria Taylor, and analysts Jason Garrett and Devin McCourty join from Kansas City ahead of Ravens-Chiefs, and co-host Jac Collinsworth, and analysts Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison join from Brazil ahead of Packers-Eagles in São Paolo (Sept. 6 exclusively on Peacock).
Red Wednesday: Wednesday, Sept. 4, Kansas City, MO
Red Wednesday continues the tradition started by Chiefs Founder Lamar Hunt and the Chiefs Red Coaters with limited-edition commemorative flags available for purchase around the city and on shop.chiefs.com to support local youth charities. Over the past 10 years, this event has raised more than $5.5 million for charity, supporting families in need across the community.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 5
NFL Character Playbook Speaker Series – Kickoff Event: Thursday, Sept. 5, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. CT, Kansas City, MO
The NFL Character Playbook Speaker Series – Kickoff Event will bring together panelists from around the League, the Kansas City Chiefs, students local to Kansas City, and students from across the country who have participated in Character Playbook to discuss themes found in the course, Character Playbook – Building Healthy Relationships and Understanding Mental Wellness. Local Kansas City students will have the opportunity to gather for a live panel discussion and participate in activities around character education and mental wellness. The panel discussion also will be hosted virtually for classrooms across the country interested in participating. At the event, NFL partner Microsoft will provide five local teachers with tickets to the annual NFL Kickoff game when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens.
Funded by the NFL Foundation, Character Playbook is a digital education resource that supports positive character development, mental wellness and healthy relationships in middle and high school students. The Healthy Relationships program is available nationally to middle school students at no cost to K-12 schools, having reached more than 3 million students nationwide.
NFL and Little Caesars Love Kitchen: Thursday, Sept. 5, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. CT, Kansas City, MO
NFL Inspire Change, the league’s social justice initiative, and Little Caesars Love Kitchen® will team up for the second year in a row with The Beehive Community Resource Collaborative, which includes NourishKC’s Kansas City Community Kitchen, to host a celebratory and impactful event serving hot meals to local community members. The community kitchen, located within The Beehive, serves restaurant-style lunch to approximately 600-900 community members who experience food insecurity per day. At this special event, members of the community will enjoy pizza from the Little Caesars Love Kitchen® and receive to-go meals prepared by NourishKC.
World’s Largest Tailgate: Thursday, Sept. 5, 5 p.m. CT, GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
The World’s Largest Tailgate will return with the Tailgate Games, taking place just before kickoff outside GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
The free, hour-long streaming show begins at 5 p.m. CT on and will be co-hosted by actor and comedian Rob Riggle and broadcaster Hayley Lewis. The event will feature live tailgate-themed competitions and pre-recorded segments with current Chiefs players. Special correspondents for the event include The Broadcast Boys, with guest appearances from YouTube star Funny Marco, comedian Desi Banks and Chiefs Hall of Famer Dante Hall, among others. Fans are invited to visit www.chiefslive.com now to reserve their virtual seat to attend this unique event celebrating the start of the football season.
NFL Votes: Thursday, Sept. 5, Kansas City, MO, GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
During the NFL’s annual Kickoff game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, the league and the Chiefs will team up with nonpartisan, partner-organizations to host a voter registration drive through NFL Votes. NFL Votes is a league-wide, nonpartisan initiative that supports and encourages civic engagement among NFL players, and legends, club and league personnel and fans.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Thurs. Sept. 5, 8:20 p.m. ET, GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
As the defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs open the 2024 season by hosting the Baltimore Ravens for the annual NFL Kickoff Game, taking place at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. This highly anticipated season opener marks a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship Game.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 6
NFL Green + Kansas City Chiefs Recycling Event: Friday, Sept. 6, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. CT, GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
NFL Green and the Kansas City Chiefs are teaming up to provide local non-profits with gently used items donated by community members. In partnership with local organization Re.Use.Full, NFL Green and the Chiefs will host a recycling drive that will provide 15 local non-profits with essential items, such as books, clothing, and appliances. Community members are encouraged to bring and donate these gently used items so that they can be distributed to people in need across the Kansas City area.
Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles in São Paulo, Brazil: Friday, Sept. 6, 8:15 p.m. ET
The Green Bay Packers will take on the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, Sept 6. at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil – the first time in history the NFL will play a regular-season game in South America and the first time the league has played a game on Friday night of Kickoff weekend in over 50 years.
With over 35 million fans of the NFL in Brazil, the league is touching down and taking over the city. Throughout the weekend, fans can visit NFL Experience – a free three-day football fan festival at Parque Villa Lobos in São Paulo, kicking off with a watch party of the Packers-Eagles game on Friday night. Six NFL Shop presented by Visa retail locations will house exclusive game merchandise across São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and local Brazilian artists will create NFL-themed murals across the host city.
On gameday, the NFL will highlight Brazil’s vibrant culture and music scene with Brazilian superstar Anitta headlining the São Paulo game halftime show and local sensations Luísa Sonza, Zeeba and CAROLA performing for fans pregame. Local fans in São Paulo can close out the weekend with NFL RUN – a 5km race with a 2km recreational walk – on Sunday morning, followed by watch parties of Sunday afternoon NFL games at NFL Experience.
Fans across the U.S. can stream the Packers-Eagles game exclusively on Peacock. Fans in Brazil can stream the game on CazéTV or watch on RedeTV!, ESPN Brazil or NFL Game Pass on DAZN. The NFL São Paulo game will kick off the 2024 NFL International Games slate, followed by three games in London, U.K. (Oct. 6, Oct. 13, Oct. 20) and one game in Munich, Germany (Nov. 10).
SUNDAY, SEPT. 7 & MONDAY, SEPT. 8
On Sunday, three rookie quarterbacks are expected to start, beginning with Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and the Chicago Bears hosting the Tennessee Titans (1 p.m. ET, FOX). In the afternoon window, Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 overall selection, and the Washington Commanders visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4:25 p.m. ET, FOX), while Bo Nix, selected 12th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, and the Denver Broncos visit the Seattle Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS).
On Sunday Night Football on NBC (8:20 p.m. ET), the Los Angeles Rams visit the Detroit Lions in a rematch of the 2023 NFC Wild Card round, a game that saw the Lions register their first playoff victory in over 30 seasons. Kickoff Weekend finishes with Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets visiting the reigning NFC champion San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC).
Tickets to all regular season games are on sale now, and fans can visit nfl.com/tickets to purchase today. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, SeatGeek and Sports Illustrated Tickets – members of the NFL Ticket Network.
