After back-to-back appearances on Christmas Day, the Kansas City Chiefs are hoping to make their presence on the NFL‘s holiday slate a permanent tradition. The reigning Super Bowl champions reportedly made a formal request to be featured every year on December 25, much like the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions have established Thanksgiving Day as part of their football identity.
In recent seasons, the Chiefs have brought their high-powered offense and headline stars to holiday action, facing off against the Pittsburgh Steelers last year and the Las Vegas Raiders before that.
With Patrick Mahomes under center and Kansas City consistently playing deep into January, it’s not hard to understand why the franchise would want to anchor one of the league’s most-watched regular-season showcases.
But the NFL appears to be proceeding with caution and not ready to commit to one team monopolizing the Christmas spotlight.
NFL keeping holiday matchups flexible
Mike North, the NFL’s vice president of broadcast planning, addressed the Chiefs’ request during a recent appearance on the It’s Always Gameday in Buffalo podcast. While he acknowledged the appeal of Kansas City in a marquee slot, he pointed to potential long-term concerns that could arise if the league tied itself too closely to one franchise.
“From the fan standpoint, I know the Chiefs are raising their hands supposedly, but that’s a lot to ask your fans to come out every year on Christmas,” North said. “Certainly while you’re good and you’re winning AFC West titles and fighting for Super Bowls, it’s an easy give. If, five years from now, Patrick Mahomes retires and they’re not the perennial division champion and in every AFC Championship game, I’m not sure we’d want to be married to a site.”
North’s comments reflect a broader strategy within the NFL to keep its prime-time and holiday lineups dynamic. The league has emphasized flexibility in its schedule-making in recent years, using tools like flex scheduling to ensure the best matchups land in top time slots.
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