Scott Hanson confirms NFL RedZone will have commercials with new intro for 2025

NFL Network’s Scott Hanson confirmed that NFL RedZone will have commercials with a new intro this season. The first edition of the whip around show begins Sunday for Week 1.

There were whispers this could be a possibility, particularly with the NFL and ESPN coming together on a deal. The four-letter-network acquired NFL Media, which included NFL Network and NFL RedZone.

ESPN would own the broad rights to the “RedZone” brand, meaning there could be more versions of it in the future. The NFL would own, operate and produce NFL RedZone and retain the rights to distribute it digitally. Hanson confirmed that, among the changes, there will be no more “commercial free football,” a popular catchphrase for fans around the country and part of Hanson’s intro to each show.

“The business folks handle the business, and I have no say over different elements that could or could not be in the show,” Hanson said on The Pat McAfee Show. “And so I’ll just tell you right now, when you see me, come on the air here, we’re going to hit the octo box. We’ve got eight games in the early window taking you around all the different cities. And then when we get into it. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, it’s been more than 250 days since the first full NFL Sunday, but we are back and seven hours of red zone football starts now.’ I realize that might be a slight change to some of you, but that’s what the catchphrase will be going.”

If you were waiting for NFL RedZone to return so you could avoid commercials in the local TV windows, well, sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Here’s another question for Hanson, considering his infamous for not taking any bathroom breaks during the show. Can he now do so?

In any event, as part of the landmark deal, ESPN would now own and operate NFL Network and fully integrate into its direct-to-consumer app, which is due to launch this fall. Additionally, NFL.com fantasy football is set to merge with ESPN Fantasy. In addition to NFL RedZone, the NFL will also own and operate NFL Films, NFL+ and NFL.com, among other properties.

ESPN will also license three NFL games per season on NFL Network as part of the deal. ESPN will also adjust its overall NFL schedule, shifting four games to NFL Network, which will still air seven games each year.