On Sunday, October 26, Jimmy Fallon will return to NBC with another special edition of The Tonight Show airing immediately after Sunday Night Football. This week’s lineup includes actor Glen Powell, baseball analyst Alex Rodriguez, and musical act Florence + The Machine, following the game between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. This broadcast represents the second of four planned Sunday night postgame shows scheduled this season, with further episodes set for November 16 and December 7.
Scheduling and Audience Strategy Behind the NFL Partnership
The episode will air right after local news on both the East and West coasts, replicating the format from the previous Sunday night show which followed the September 21 Chiefs-Giants game. Chris Miller, showrunner for The Tonight Show, explained that this collaboration with NBC Sports is designed to engage football viewers directly by featuring sports-related sketches and special guest segments tied to the NFL.
Jimmy Fallon has a history of hosting shows after major NFL games, including five Sunday episodes in 2019 and broadcasts following the Super Bowl in 2015 and 2018. With Sunday Night Football maintaining its status as the top primetime television program for 14 consecutive seasons, NBC hopes to leverage the NFL’s large audience to boost Fallon’s ratings, similar to how Jimmy Kimmel Live! benefits from ABC’s Monday Night Football viewership.
Ratings Boost from NFL Lead-In Demonstrated in Early Season Results
Fallon’s initial Sunday night episode this season, which aired after the Chiefs-Giants game on September 21, attracted 2.1 million viewers, more than doubling The Tonight Show’s usual third-quarter audience according to Nielsen Live+3 data. Among the key 18–49 demographic, viewership increased by 240%, rising from an average of 170,000 to 579,000 during that episode.
Significance and Expectations for Future Broadcasts
By featuring Glen Powell Tonight Show appearances alongside notable guests like Alex Rodriguez and Florence + The Machine, the program aims to maintain momentum from its NFL partnership and attract a broader late-night audience. This strategy not only strengthens NBC’s offering during prime Sunday nights but also provides new opportunities for creative integrations between sports and entertainment. As the season progresses, these postgame specials could reshape how late-night shows capitalize on major sporting events.
