In collaboration with the Cologne production company BROADVIEW and NFL Films, RTL is producing the 60-minute documentary “The Game – The NFL Conquers Germany”, which deals with the growing popularity of the NFL in Germany. The focus is, among other things, on the Indianapolis Colts and the NFL game in Berlin in 2025 against the Atlanta Falcons – told from a unique behind-the-scenes perspective. From January 25th, the documentary will be available exclusively on RTL+.
Can the fascination of the National Football League permanently conquer the hearts of fans in Germany and beyond? With “The Game – The NFL conquers Germany” RTL examines this question and tells the extraordinary success story of the largest sports league in the world. Based on the Berlin Game in November 2025, the documentary shows how the NFL has developed from its historical origins to today’s major global events.
Two central narrative threads connect the present and history of the NFL. The focus is on the NFL game in Berlin, which provides exclusive insights into the league and the team from Indianapolis. Over several months, an award-winning documentary film team accompanied the extensive preparations for the NFL’s first regular season game in the German capital. The story is told from the perspective of the people who make this event possible and shape it: players, team owners, league officials, commentators, cheerleaders and fans. Observational everyday footage and personal interviews provide a rare look behind the scenes of a highly professional organization at all levels.
In addition, the documentary uses historical flashbacks that trace the league’s formative stages – from its beginnings to its establishment as the leading sports league in the USA. At the same time, it shows how enthusiasm for American football has developed in Germany. Archive footage and conversations with experts recall key moments in NFL history. From the former “NFL Europe” to sold-out stadiums in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin, the film traces how football has firmly anchored itself in German fan culture.
The contributors include current and former German-speaking NFL players such as Bernhard Raimann, Markus Kuhn and Björn Werner. In addition, leading figures from the league will speak, including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Head of NFL International Gerrit Meier, Managing Director of NFL Germany Alexander Steinforth and Indianapolis Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon. The documentary is supplemented by national and international NFL experts such as the renowned author Michael MacCambridge and the well-known German NFL voice Patrick Esume. Fans, cheerleaders and contemporary witnesses also contribute to the narrative with their perspectives.
From January 25th, the documentary will be available exclusively on RTL+. RTL will also show a shortened version on February 8th at 7:05 p.m. as a free TV premiere before the live broadcast of the NFL Super Bowl.
In advance of the TV premiere, RTL is hosting an exclusive sneak preview event at the RheinRiff sports location in Düsseldorf on the day before Super Bowl Sunday. The screening will be accompanied by a live program moderated by Jan Stecker, including live interviews with representatives of the Indianapolis Colts.
Entry is possible for guests aged 16 and over.
- 8:00 p.m. – Doors open
- 8:30 p.m. – Program with the Indianapolis Colts
- 9:00 p.m. – Start of the documentary
As part of the other premiere activities, the Indianapolis Colts will be present at the RheinRiff Düsseldorf with two cheerleaders and the mascot Blue. Further details on additional events and activations will be announced in the coming weeks.
“The Game” is a BROADVIEW production in collaboration with RTL Deutschland. The producer is Emmy Award winner Leopold Hoesch (“Nowitzki. The Perfect Shot”, “KLITSCHKO”, “KROOS”).
“The Game – The NFL Conquers Germany” is one of RTL’s most important NFL projects outside of live broadcasts and underlines the importance of the Colts as the home team of the NFL Berlin Game 2025, as well as their growing presence in the German market.
Further information about the documentary, distribution and accompanying measures will follow shortly.
