Disney’s ‘Star Wars’ broadcast headed to Super Bowl LXI in 2027
Disney plans to give Super Bowl LXI a Star Wars spin — but the real twist is how you'll watch it.
Instead of a plain alternate feed, Disney is building a full-on animated broadcast for Super Bowl LXI. The company will air Star Wars Funday Football on Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney XD, and the ESPN App, where every snap is recreated in real time with players rendered as animated avatars. Expect droids, aliens, and surprise nods to the movies slipping in during big moments.
Super Bowl LXI is Sunday, February 14, 2027.
How it works
The telecast pulls directly from the NFL ’s Next Gen Stats and Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations optical tracking to turn live action into animation on the fly. C-3PO is set to have a prominent part, with Anthony Daniels involved. The reveal came via a joint video from ESPN and the official Star Wars YouTube channel. Disney says settings, commentators, and which characters pop up will be detailed closer to kickoff.
More ways to watch
Not into lightsabers with your football? There’s also a new on-the-field option. Pat McAfee will lead Field Pass, a commentary-first telecast built around sideline access and reactions. McAfee said he personally pitched the concept to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to lock down that on-field presence, and ESPN later confirmed the plan.
- Star Wars Funday Football — real-time animated feed on Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney XD, ESPN App
- Field Pass with Pat McAfee — commentary-driven alternate telecast alongside the ABC/ESPN broadcast
- ManningCast — Peyton and Eli on ESPN2
- Playbook — a stats-focused view on NFL Network
- ESPN Deportes — Spanish-language telecast
McAfee also has a weekly role on Monday Night Countdown with Jason Kelce and Scott Van Pelt, so his voice will be familiar even before the big game.
One more Star Wars tie-in lands right after: to mark the franchise ’s 50th anniversary, Lucasfilm is putting the restored 1977 original back in theaters on February 19, 2027.