Scott Hanson reveals NFL RedZone commercial change for 2026 season

“NFL RedZone” fans rejoice: You won’t be seeing more commercials than you did last season.

Host Scott Hanson told Front Office Sports this week that the viewing experience will remain largely unchanged, with “RedZone” actually cutting back on some ad spots.

“I could tell you from where we ended last year, there will not be more,” Hanson said. “In fact, the actual ads that you see, there will be fewer of what we call the 15-second commercials with the audio going and the product and whatnot.”

Last year, the seven-hour show added commercials after famously being commercial-free, setting off major backlash across the NFL world. 

Hanson, who has hosted since 2009, said “RedZone” will still feature sponsored segments such as the “Mercedes-Benz Drive of the Day” and “Allstate Good Hands Play of the Day,” but those are not counted as traditional commercials.

He added that the standalone, 15-second ads inserted at times between plays will be less frequent at the start of this season compared to last year.

“Our promise to you is we never miss a touchdown,” Hanson said. “We only sneak these in when the team is walking back to the huddle during at least a little bit of a dead period in the game, and it’s one 15-second standalone commercial at a time.

“I would just tell fans this: if you loved ‘RedZone’ two years ago, before there was ever a 15-second standalone commercial, try us this year and see if it’s not still the show that you love to watch and set your calendar by every year. I think we will deliver the way we always have for our great fans.”

Before the first Sunday of the 2025 season, Hanson attempted to quell fans’ concerns in a video posted to X, stressing that while he had no control over the business decision, his priority remained showing as much football as possible.

“I’m the host of the show, I put everything I’ve got into trying to be the best host I can possibly be for you,” Hanson said. “I want it to be fun, energetic, passionate, informative, entertaining, so that you love your football Sundays. As for the business side of things, I have no control over that. I have no say in the business side of things.

“I will say, there is no one on the planet that wants to show you more football than I do. And if there is someone, I would love to meet him because we’d have something in common.”