Best Sports Podcasts in 2026
Best sports podcasts in 2026
Sports podcasting has gone from niche to mainstream. Spotify's 2025 year-end data showed sports as the fastest-growing podcast category, with shows like New Heights pulling audiences that rival cable sports broadcasts. Whether you follow the NFL, NBA, soccer, combat sports, or a little of everything, there's a sports podcast that matches your interest and listening style.
TL;DR
- Best overall: The Bill Simmons Podcast (multi-sport analysis with personality)
- Best for NFL: The Ringer NFL Show (deep scheme analysis without the hot takes)
- Best for NBA: No Dunks (five hosts, daily coverage, genuine fun)
- Best for soccer: Men in Blazers (witty English Premier League commentary)
- Best for interviews: Pardon My Take (athlete interviews with humor)
- Best for daily updates: ESPN Daily (polished, story-driven sports journalism)
New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce
- Best for: NFL fans who want personality-driven football talk
- Format: Weekly during football season, biweekly off-season
- Episode length: 60-90 minutes
Jason and Travis Kelce turned their sibling dynamic into the biggest sports podcast in the country. The show topped Spotify's sports charts in 2025, pulling in audiences well beyond the typical NFL fanbase. Episodes cover game breakdowns, locker room stories, and personal life updates with a loose, conversational energy.
The chemistry between the brothers is what sets this apart from standard football pods. Travis brings the active-player perspective; Jason (now retired) offers unfiltered analysis without worrying about team PR. Off-season episodes can drift into lifestyle territory, which may not be for everyone, but the football content stays sharp.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
- Best for: Multi-sport fans who want opinionated, long-form analysis
- Format: 2-3 episodes per week
- Episode length: 60-120 minutes
Bill Simmons has been doing sports commentary longer than most podcasters have been alive. His show covers the NFL, NBA, and whatever else is dominating the sports conversation that week. The "guess the lines" segments during football season are a staple, and his NBA trade deadline coverage is appointment listening.
Simmons is polarizing on purpose. He has strong opinions, plays favorites (the Celtics, always), and isn't afraid to admit when he's wrong. If you want balanced, down-the-middle analysis, this isn't your show. If you want a smart friend arguing about sports with other smart friends, it's one of the best.
Pardon My Take
- Best for: Fans who want sports talk mixed with comedy and big-name interviews
- Format: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
- Episode length: 75-120 minutes
Big Cat and PFT Commenter built Pardon My Take into one of the most-downloaded sports podcasts by treating sports media itself as part of the entertainment. The show blends genuine sports analysis with recurring comedy segments, athlete interviews, and a willingness to be silly that most sports media avoids.
The interview roster is impressive. They've had on everyone from NFL quarterbacks to Olympic athletes, and guests tend to relax into the casual format in ways they don't on traditional sports shows. Monday episodes with weekend recaps are the strongest; Friday "guys on chicks" segments are an acquired taste.
ESPN Daily
- Best for: Listeners who want polished, story-driven sports journalism
- Format: Daily, Monday through Friday
- Episode length: 20-30 minutes
ESPN Daily takes one story per episode and gives it the full narrative treatment. Host Pablo Torre brings in ESPN reporters and analysts to dig into the context behind the headlines. Episodes cover everything from trade deadline drama to long-form features on athletes you've never heard of.
The short format makes it easy to fit into a commute. Production quality is high, and the reporting leans on ESPN's deep bench of beat writers. It won't satisfy fans looking for hot takes or debate, but for journalism-first sports coverage, it's the best daily option.
No Dunks (formerly The Starters)
- Best for: NBA fans who want daily coverage with genuine chemistry
- Format: Daily during NBA season
- Episode length: 45-60 minutes
Five hosts covering the NBA every single day during the season. No Dunks has been running in various forms since 2007, and the hosts' familiarity with each other shows. They disagree without being disagreeable, run recurring segments that reward regular listeners, and bring a tone that feels like listening to your basketball-obsessed friend group.
The show is lighter than the hardcore analytics pods but smarter than the average sports radio call-in. If you're looking for a deep statistical breakdown of every game, you might want to pair this with a more data-focused show. For daily NBA conversation that's informed and entertaining, No Dunks has few equals.
Men in Blazers
- Best for: English Premier League fans (and soccer-curious listeners)
- Format: Weekly during the Premier League season, plus tournament coverage
- Episode length: 45-75 minutes
Roger Bennett and Michael Davies cover the English Premier League with a mix of genuine tactical insight and self-aware humor. The show works whether you're a lifelong soccer fan or someone trying to understand what the fuss is about. Their matchday recaps, transfer window commentary, and big-match previews balance analysis with storytelling.
Men in Blazers also branches into World Cup and European Championship coverage during major tournaments, making it a year-round listen for soccer fans. The American-in-England perspective gives it a unique angle that pure English football pods don't have.
The Pat McAfee Show
- Best for: NFL fans who want high-energy daily football content
- Format: Daily, Monday through Friday
- Episode length: 2-3 hours (clips available)
Pat McAfee's show runs long and loud. The former NFL punter turned his personality into a daily sports show that covers football, wrestling, and whatever else catches his attention. The Aaron Rodgers Tuesday appearances became appointment listening during football season, and the show regularly breaks NFL news through its network of league sources.
At 2-3 hours per episode, it demands commitment. If you want tight, edited analysis, this will feel chaotic. If you want the energy of sports radio with better guests and fewer commercial breaks, McAfee delivers. The YouTube clips make it easy to catch highlights without the full episode.
How we chose these picks
We selected shows based on consistent episode quality, listener engagement, and how well they serve their specific audience. We prioritized podcasts that have maintained quality over multiple seasons rather than shows riding a single viral moment. Our picks span different sports and formats so there's something here regardless of which leagues you follow.
Want to branch out beyond sports? Check out our lists of best comedy podcasts and the best true crime podcasts for more listening options.
Frequently asked questions
What's the most popular sports podcast right now?
New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce topped Spotify's sports podcast charts in 2025 and continues to lead downloads in 2026. Pardon My Take and The Pat McAfee Show consistently rank in the top five as well.
Are there good sports podcasts for casual fans?
ESPN Daily is the best pick for casual fans. Each episode is 20-30 minutes, covers one story with full context, and doesn't assume deep knowledge. Pardon My Take also works if you prefer a lighter, comedy-driven approach to sports.
How do I listen to sports podcasts without ads?
Many sports podcasts offer ad-free feeds through membership programs on Patreon or Apple Podcasts Subscriptions. For shows that don't offer ad-free options, a podcast app like Podtastic can skip ads automatically across your entire sports podcast library.
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