Tom Brady, Dak Prescott, Aaron Donald & Khalil Mack Headline NFL Kickoff Game and “Sunday Night Football” Opener on NBC & Peacock

The NFL announced this morning on TODAY that its 2021 season – “The Biggest Season Ever” – will begin with Tom Brady and the Super Bowl-champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers facing Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL Kickoff Game on Thursday, September 9 at 8:20PM ET on NBC and Peacock from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.

Three days later in the season opener of Sunday Night Football – primetime TV’s #1 show for an unprecedented 10 consecutive seasons – three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald and new Los Angeles teammate, eight-time 4,000-yard passer Matthew Stafford host Khalil Mack and the Chicago Bears, as the Rams welcome fans to SoFi Stadium for the first time at 8:20PM ET on NBC and Peacock.

NBC Sports will present the first snap of the opening game in Tampa and the final snap as the league crowns a champion in Los Angeles at Super Bowl LVI on February 13, 2022 at SoFi Stadium on NBC and Peacock. The remainder of the 2021 NFL schedule will be released tonight at 8PM ET on NFL Network.

In its first season with rights to stream the NFL, Peacock will stream all NBC Sunday Night Football games, including the Playoffs and Super Bowl LVI, and the Football Night in America studio show. Peacock will also produce a new exclusive, expanded postgame show following SNF each week.

During the first intermission of tonight’s Minnesota Wild-St. Louis Blues NHL game, beginning at 9PM ET on NBCSN, Sunday Night Football commentators Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth and new Football Night in America studio analyst Drew Brees will join NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico to discuss the 2021 SNF schedule.

NBC SPORTS’ 2021 NFL KICKOFF WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Thursday September 9 Week 1 Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Sunday, September 12 Week 1 Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Rams

Sunday Night Football topped all primetime television series in the fall and is once again pacing to finish as primetime’s #1 TV show in all key metrics for an unprecedented 10th consecutive year. NBC’s SNF extended its record for the most consecutive years atop the charts (since 1950), based on official live plus same day data provided by Nielsen.

Most Consecutive Years, #1 Ranked Show in Primetime, Since 1950

10 years in a row – Sunday Night Football (2011-12 through 2020-21; on pace)

6 years in a row – American Idol (2005-06 through 2010-11)

5 years in a row – The Cosby Show (1985-86 through 1989-90)… tied Cheers in ’89-90

5 years in a row – All in the Family (1971-72 through 1975-76)

4 years in a row – Gunsmoke (1957-58 through 1960-61)