NFL on Kodi – Best NFL Add-ons 2021 (Official and Unofficial)
In this article, I will share my experience of watching the National Football League with Kodi using 5 official add-ons and 1 unofficial. You’ll also find out how to set up Kodi and how to improve your connection speed and if you can bypass various restrictions.
Table of contents:
- Which is better - an official or unofficial NFL add-on for Kodi?
- Installing Kodi
- ⚡ Top 5 official NFL add-ons
- Unofficial NFL add-on
- Installing the NFL.com add-on
- Streaming VPNs and the law
- Bypassing NFL streaming restrictions
To install the NFL add-on on your Kodi (for a step-by-step guide, see the “Set up the NFL.com Add-on” chapter), you need to have a subscription to a streaming service that broadcasts NFL games or use an unofficial sport streaming add-on.
The following official (paid) streaming platforms are maximally adapted for sports broadcasts and films and have their own Kodi add-ons:
- ESPN
- DAZN
- Sling
- NBC Sports
- BBC iPlayer
You can immediately register in any of them, or choose the NFL Kodi add-on first, using my recommendations, which I will discuss below.
A subscription is needed not to install the add-on, but for its further work. All add-ons require authorization using account details.
Unofficial sport streaming Kodi add-on:
- SportsDevil
⚠️Regardless of which add-on you choose, use a VPN for Kodi to remove all possible restrictions. Typically, one of them is the Internet Service Provider (ISP) speed limit for streaming video. VPN will also allow the NFL add-on to work from anywhere in the world, as not all streaming platforms operate outside of the United States or the United Kingdom.
IMPORTANT: When using the unofficial NFL add-on for Kodi, there is no guarantee that the stream is legal. Use a VPN that will hide your network activity from the ISP.
Get an extra 20% discount on the best VPN
Attention!
The article is of a research nature and doesn’t call for copyright infringement or otherwise violating the law. Before streaming, make sure the content you are streaming isn’t copyrighted.
Which is better - an official or unofficial NFL add-on for Kodi?
Why do we love Kodi? First of all, Kodi is a cross-platform app that allows you to access videos, music, pictures, and games from one place. Moreover, Kodi has no “limit”. There is no fixed finite list of programs and content sources.
And the second indisputable advantage of Kodi is the ability to use not only official add-ons, but also third-party software for free access to movies and music.
What is a Kodi add-on?
Kodi is a platform, based on which separate modules (add-ons) work. Each of them can be compared with an app for Android and iPhone (read How to install Kodi on iPhone/iPad) or with a program for Windows and Mac. Any module can be installed from a main or third-party repository and each one was built with a specific purpose (for example, to show NFL games). Any developer can create their own add-on. There are several hundred different Kodi add-ons from the developers around the world.
Add-ons created by a certain company or service for themselves are called official.
Modules created by third-party developers to support any services or systems are unofficial.
From my experience, I will say that recently the list of unofficial Kodi add-ons has significantly narrowed. If in 2017-2019, I had 3-4 really working add-ons for NFL to choose from, then while writing this article, I barely found only one option.
Installing Kodi
If you haven’t used the NFL add-on before and you don’t have Kodi installed, then the following step-by-step instructions will help you to install Kodi on any device.
The installation of this cross-platform app is practically the same for different OSs. I'll show you how to do this using the Android, for example.
Installing Kodi step-by-step instruction
- Go to Google Play, Apple App Store, Huawei AppGallery, or Amazon Appstore and search for Kodi there.
If you don’t have Android TV, then you can use any TV box - Roku, Fire TV (Firestick), Apple TV.
- Install the app.
- Launch Kodi.
During the launch, a splash screen appears for a while.
After the launch, you’ll see a message and two buttons. You don't need to do anything about it.
- Go to the Add-ons section
Now, you’re ready to install the NFL add-on. To do this, you need to click on the “Enter add-on browser” button and install it. Use the step-by-step instructions from the chapter "Installing the NFL.com add-on".
You can also install Kodi with pre-installed modules. There are special builds that contain everything you need to get the most out of this versatile platform - Kodi builds.
Top 5 official NFL add-ons
In this section, you'll find all the information you need to install and use the best Kodi add-ons to stream NFL games.
Advantages of the official software:
- access to the most relevant and diverse content is guaranteed;
- easy to install from the main Kodi repository.
Disadvantage - a paid subscription to the streaming platform is required.
I’ve selected the 5 best Kodi add-ons for streaming NFL. Ideal for watching NFL games, they also provide access to many other sports and more.
Next, I will briefly describe the features of each service that has its own Kodi add-on.
ESPN 3
- Number of visitors: > 450 million per month.
- Where can I download it? From the official Kodi repository.
- Geo-constraints: The US only.
- Ability to bypass restrictions: Yes.
- Content types: Live broadcasts and on-demand content.
- Other sports associations: Yes.
ESPN is the largest sports streaming platform available in the United States. The service website is also included in the 100 largest sites in the world (according to the analytical resource SimilarWeb).
ESPN makes it possible to watch NFL, NBA, NLB, F1, NHL, MMA games, sports analytics, etc.
For Kodi, the service is available via an official add-on that is easy to install from the main repository. I will describe below how to do this.
Access to broadcasts is available only after registration on the official website of the espn.com company.
ESPN 3 has strict geo-restrictions. If you are faced with the fact that you cannot access the broadcast, then use a special VPN service for Kodi, which bypasses any restrictions and is effective with DPI (deep traffic analysis technology). I recommend using ExpressVPN.
DAZN
- Number of visitors: > 32 million per month.
- Where can I download it? The official Kodi repository.
- Geo-restrictions: Available in most countries.
- Ability to bypass restrictions: Yes.
- Content types: Live broadcasts and on-demand content.
- Other sports associations: Yes.
DAZN, the second most popular sports streaming service, will be especially interesting for residents of Europe and some other countries where people are interested in football. The platform has not 1, but 3 NFL channels at once - NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and NFL Game Pass.
Also, DAZN allows you to watch the games of EFL, KHL, Premier League, UEFA, Europe League, and others.
A subscription is required to view DAZN through its Kodi add-on. The good news it is free for the first month of subscription.
DAZN cannot be called a service without geo-restrictions. There are many countries where some of the popular channels aren’t available. You can solve this issue using a VPN. Surfshark is the cheapest yet most efficient VPN for Kodi.
Sling.TV
- Number of visitors: > 16 million per month.
- Where can I download it? The official Kodi repository.
- Geo-restrictions: The US only.
- Ability to bypass restrictions: Yes.
- Content types: Live broadcasts.
- Other sports associations: Yes.
The next Kodi add-on was created by Sling.TV, one of the largest sports streaming services. It is interesting that it broadcasts not only NFL but also the programs of such channels as FOX, NBC, CNN, TNT, and others.
With the Sling.TV add-on, you will have access not only to sports games, but also TV shows, films, and some series from more than 50 popular channels.
As with other official add-ons, Sling.TV requires a subscription. If you are a new user of the service, then the first three days will be free.
Do you want to watch convenient multichannel Sling.TV from anywhere in the world? Try NordVPN. This VPN service not only consistently bypasses geo-restrictions but also copes with Internet censorship in countries such as China, the UAE, and Iran.
NBC Sports Live Extra
- Number of visitors: > 55 million per month.
- Where can I download it? The official Kodi repository.
- Geo-restrictions: The US only.
- Ability to bypass restrictions: Yes.
- Content types: Live broadcasts.
- Other sports associations: Yes.
Another add-on that lets you watch NFL games on Kodi is NBC Sports. I placed it in 4th place despite its high popularity due to the relatively small selection of championships with significant geo-restrictions. If you live in the US, then all games are available to you. If you are in another country, regardless of whether you are a citizen of the United States or not, you will not be able to watch the NFL broadcast.
NBC Sports offers viewers the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and F1.
You can unblock the NBC Sports add-on outside the US with a VPN.
iPlayer WWW
- Where can I download it? The official Kodi repository.
- Geo-restrictions: UK only.
- Ability to bypass restrictions: Yes.
- Content types: Live broadcasts, recorded programs.
- Other sports associations: Yes.
There is an excellent Kodi add-on for the NFL created outside of the United States. This is BBC iPlayer WWW. The add-on allows you to access BBC sports broadcasts and a huge database of movies and TV shows around the world if you have a UK IP address.
You can change your IP to the desired one using a VPN. At the end of the article, I will provide 3 of the best VPN services for unblocking Kodi add-ons.
iPlayer is easy to use and installed on any device.
Unofficial NFL add-on
Unfortunately, I have not been able to confirm the effectiveness of the freest (no paid subscription) NFL add-ons. They either no longer work in 2021 or their repositories no longer exist.
I found only one really working add-on. At the time of this writing, I was able to access some of the streaming channels of this add-on.
SportsDevil
- Where can I download it? Unofficial repository (see instructions below).
- Geo-constraints: None.
- Content types: Live broadcasts, recorded programs.
- Other sports associations: Yes.
Free access to online NFL broadcasts from anywhere in the world is possible with the help of the unofficial add-on SportsDevil, created by independent developers.
The add-on integrates the broadcasts of several dozen sports streaming sites, including NFL.com.
The advantage of such software is obvious: it is free and covers a large number of broadcasts. But there is also a drawback: the user cannot be sure that SportsDevil is legally receiving content. The second drawback is associated with this: the add-on can stop working at any time, as it was already with a dozen other similar platforms.
Read the next chapter on how to install official and unofficial Kodi modules.
Installing the NFL.com add-on
Most of the add-ons below are installed from the official Kodi repository. There are also dozens of unofficial repositories from which add-ons can be installed to view the NFL. There you can find both official and unofficial versions.
Installing the official add-on for NFL step-by-step
- Installing the official add-on for NFL step by step.
- Click "Search".
- Use search by name. You can find any of the official Kodi apps listed in this article. I'll take the software from ESPN as an example.
- Choose the correct option.
The search results can contain 1 or more lines. Choose the one that best matches my description.
- Install the add-on.
Make sure that the app logo is correct and install it by clicking on “Install”:
- Agree with the proposed additions.
Kodi will ask permission to install the missing modules. Agree to it, otherwise, the further installation will be impossible.
After that, the system will download and install all the necessary modules.
- Run the NFL add-on and log in.
All official NFL viewing apps are released by major streaming services that operate by subscription. Use the data for authorization obtained during registration on the service.
Installing the unofficial add-on for NFL step by step
Before installation, make sure Unknown sources is enabled in Settings / System.
- Go to Kodi System Preferences.
- Launch the File Manager.
- Go to the left menu under “Profile directory” and enter the name of the repository.
Use the address http://ezzer-mac.com/repo/. Any name can be entered. I entered Ezzer.
After entering the data, confirm with OK.
- Go to the add-ons settings menu and Install from the zip file.
You can get to the add-ons menu in the same way as in item 1 of the instructions for installing official modules.
- Select Ezzer.
In the list that appears, find the repository name that you entered in step 3.
Once selected, click OK.
- Select Install from the repository.
Return to the add-on settings menu and click on the item:
- Go to EzzerMacs Wizard Repository.
- Select SportDevil.
In the list of add-ons that appears, select SportDevil:
- Click “Install” to start the installation.
Any other unofficial add-ons are installed similarly.
Bypassing NFL streaming restrictions
So, you have a working NFL add-on, but you cannot start watching the stream. An error related to an incorrect region appears, or any other error (in the case of an unofficial add-on).
You have geo-restricted access or streaming content is blocked by your ISP.
How to get around restrictions?
In most cases, a VPN will help. This is an absolutely legal technology that allows traffic to be sent through a virtual tunnel from the user's device to a special VPN server, from which a connection to the necessary sites is established.
Thus, using one technology, two problems are solved at once:
- Masking traffic from an Internet provider
- Hiding location (IP hiding) for streaming broadcast sources.
Streaming VPNs and the law
A natural question appears: is it legal to change your IP address and encrypt data?
Answer: Yes!
The existence of secure local networks of hundreds of thousands of companies is based on VPN technology. Their employees can enter the corporate network from anywhere in the world without the risk of leakage of important data.
A normal home VPN works similarly, only you and the server are on your network.
Note that streaming platforms don't like it when users use a VPN. They try to block such connections and put the addresses of VPN servers in the blacklist.
Because of this, only a few VPN providers can bypass these restrictions.
Read more in the VPN for streaming article.
Bypassing NFL streaming restrictions
So how do you get around geo-restrictions and blocking? Which VPN should you choose?
I have been professionally testing VPN services and advising virtual network clients for over 10 years. During this time, I have conducted hundreds of tests and studied thousands of reviews. Based on my experience, I recommend any of the following three VPNs.
All of these services don’t require a VPN add-on to be installed on Kodi (you can install it if you wish). It is enough to install a VPN app on any platform or router.
🥇 ExpressVPN
Let's start with the strongest and fastest VPN service - ExpressVPN's. In the last 3 years, it has performed the highest on speed and privacy testing.
ExpressVPN can "hide" 100% of your traffic from your ISP and bypass almost any protection of streaming services of any level.
In addition to sports platforms, the provider supports unblocking Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and many others.
ExpressVPN is easy to install and requires no additional configuration to work with Kodi.
The service has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Also read:
🥈 NordVPN
Another great VPN for unblocking NFL streaming is NordVPN. This is my favourite service that I use not only for Kodi but for all other work and entertainment purposes.
NordVPN has the perfect balance between features and price. It is significantly cheaper than ExpressVPN, has high speeds, and supports the ultra-modern, energy-efficient WireGuard tunnelling protocol.
For Kodi users, NordVPN offers many step-by-step guides to set up any device.
The service has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Also read:
🥉 Surfshark
If you are planning to link Kodi to a VPN for a long time, then there is a great way to save money. To do this, install Surfshark. This is a relatively new, but already proven budget VPN.
With a 2-year or longer subscription, it's 3x cheaper than ExpressVPN. At the same time, it is no less effective and convenient for unblocking broadcasts than the VPNs described above.
What's more, Surfshark is also great for torrenting and Kodi torrent add-ons - all of its servers support P2P.
The service also has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Also read:
In preparing the materials, I used my experience of unblocking and watching NFL games, and also analysed dozens of reviews from Reddit and other open sources.
I hope the article was helpful and I will appreciate any comments or questions. I will be happy to answer them in the comments below the article.
Dean Chester.
Read also on the Kodi topic:
Write a review