YouTube is integrating content creator Deestroying as a sideline reporter for its inaugural exclusive NFL stream, featuring the Kansas City Chiefs versus Los Angeles Chargers on September 5, from São Paulo, Brazil.

Deestroying, whose real name is Donald De La Haye, brings football experience as a former UCF kicker with brief UFL playing time. With over 6.3 million YouTube subscribers, he will join a broadcast team featuring play-by-play announcer Rich Eisen, analyst Kurt Warner, and fellow sideline reporter Stacey Dales. Terry McAulay will serve as rules expert, with NBC handling production.

According to The Athletic, the studio coverage will feature a “dynamic podcast-style format” with hosts Kay Adams, Cam Newton, Derek Carr, Brandon Marshall, Tyrann Mathieu, and YouTube creator Peter Overzet. René Giraldo and former kicker Edgar Lopez will provide Spanish-language commentary.

Distribution Plans

The game will stream free globally on YouTube and YouTube TV, with exceptions in Canada due to existing agreements with Bell Canada, and blackouts in several other countries. This streaming partnership extends the NFL’s media strategy of carving out rights for streaming platforms to expand reach to younger and international audiences.

YouTube users spent over 350 million hours watching official NFL content in 2024, with the league’s official channel now exceeding 14 million subscribers. This broadcast represents YouTube’s first exclusive NFL game stream, building on its role as the U.S. home for NFL Sunday Ticket.

“Social media and creators are often the conduits to reach younger fans,” Ian Trombetta, the NFL’s SVP of Social, Influencer/Creator & Content Marketing, recently told Net Influencer, positioning creators at the center of the league’s youth engagement mission. “We can expose them to our players, teams, games, and partners in ways relevant for today’s day and age.”

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Check Out Our Podcast