NBC to air The Tonight Show after ‘Sunday Night Football’ this fall

EntertainmentSports
29 Aug 2025 • 6:19 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • NBC plans to boost the ratings of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon by airing four special Sunday night episodes after Sunday Night Football this autumn.
  • The strategy aims to capitalize on the NFL's massive audience, particularly targeting games featuring popular teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, partly due to Travis Kelce's association with Taylor Swift.
  • Two of the special broadcasts will follow Chiefs games, with others after high-profile matchups such as Green Bay Packers versus Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions versus Philadelphia Eagles.
  • NBC previously attempted this approach, with a single post-NFL airing last year resulting in The Tonight Show's best viewership of the season.
  • This initiative comes as linear television faces declining viewership, while Sunday Night Football remains TV's top-rated program, consistently attracting over 20 million viewers.

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