How to Watch NFL on Kodi: Best 2017 Add-ons for NFL Live Streams

Kodi, formerly known as XBMC, is a free and open source media center that makes it easy to watch movies and TV shows from a variety of online sources. You can load your own video library directly into Kodi, catch a live TV stream from within the app, and even install add-ons that crack open countless new ways to entertain and distract yourself for hours on end.

Kodi’s real power comes from its unofficial third party add-ons, especially the ones that enable live streaming. With the right tools you can watch television shows and sports from around the world on nearly any device. There are even official and unofficial add-ons for viewing NFL content!

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To access NFL game streams on Kodi you’ll need to install the right third party add-ons. Just like with MLB content, the process is a lot simpler than it looks, so keep reading for a complete guide on how to watch the NFL on Kodi.

Before You Download: Get a Good VPN

While the Kodi software itself is open source, free, and legal, some of the add-ons you can install access content in a manner best described as “legally gray”. Live streaming, TV, and movie plug-ins are especially prone being monitored and reported to government and corporate agencies by your local ISP, leaving you vulnerable each time you go online.

To protect yourself from snooping service providers all you need to do is use a virtual private network. VPNs act as a tunnel between you and the content you’re downloading. Normally, data such as your location, operating system, and which Kodi streams you’re accessing is sent in a raw format through your local service provider where it can be shared with or sold to third parties. With a VPN active, information that leaves your computer is sent to servers around the world and encrypted to make it unreadable.

Not all VPN services are created equal, however. Some throttle bandwidth, restrict the types of files you can download, put your privacy at risk by storing activity logs, or have crippling speed problems that make streaming videos nearly impossible. To ensure your VPN doesn’t negatively impact your Kodi content viewing, make sure the service places a high priority on the following features:

  1. Fast download speeds – All VPNs add some latency due to the extra distance data travels as well as encryption overhead. This can create a significant drop in the quality of the videos you stream, especially if you favor HD sources. Speed is a critical factor in choosing a VPN, so make sure your provider places a high priority on fast server connections.
  2. Zero-logging policy – In addition to encrypting and anonymizing data, good VPN services will have a strict policy against keeping records of user activity. This delivers an extremely high level of security, as your private information is never stored on an external computer. If a VPN doesn’t state its logging policy right up front, keep searching for a better provider.
  3. Allowing all traffic and file types – Some VPNs restrict which types of files and traffic users can download, including torrents and content from P2P networks. This can render Kodi practically useless. Good VPN providers have no file restrictions of any type.
  4. Good server availability – One of the key benefits of using a VPN is being able to change virtual locations to access geo-blocked content. The more servers a VPN has, the better.

Who’s the best?

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One VPN provider that scores high on all of the above features is IPVanish. The service places top priority on user privacy and manages to deliver it without sacrificing speed. IPVanish also has a strict zero-logging policy, unlimited bandwidth, no file type restrictions, and over 750 servers in 60 different countries, making it a solid choice for a fast, high quality VPN.

The service supports all Kodi add-ons that we have tested, has all the benefits a VPN can deliver, which really makes your NFL streams safe, private, and accessible no matter where you live.

IPVanish offers a 7-day money back guarantee which means you have a week to test it risk-free. Please note that Addictive Tips readers can save a massive 60% here on the IPVanish annual plan, taking the monthly price down to only $4.87/mo.

How to Install Kodi Add-ons

Once you install Kodi to your favorite device, a world of add-ons are suddenly at your disposal. Everything from music plug-ins to extra interface features, live television, and a variety of video streams are just a few clicks away. Kodi downloads usually come with built in access to Kodi repositories, giving you a set of official add-ons you can install and use right away. To grab the most useful sports related content, however, you’ll need to take a few extra steps.

Before you can install third party add-ons Kodi has to be able to retrieve files from external sources:

  1. Open Kodi and click on the gear icon to enter the System menu.
  2. Go to System Settings > Add-ons
  3. Toggle the slider next to the “Unknown sources” option.
  4. Accept the warning message that pops up.

Now that Kodi can install external files, you’re ready to begin. The basic process behind installing new add-ons is surprisingly simple. First, tell Kodi where to locate a specific repository, which is a bundle of add-ons stored on an external server. Next, add this repository to Kodi. With the repository in place you can browse its contents and install add-ons at your leisure.

Overview of how to install Kodi add-ons:

  1. Open Kodi and click the gear icon to enter the System menu.
  2. Go to File Manager > Add Source. You may need to click the double-dot at the top to move to the top of the directory.
  3. Type the URL of the add-on repository into the window that opens.
  4. Type a custom name for the repository you’re about to add and click “OK”.
  5. Go back to the Kodi main menu and select “Add-ons”.
  6. Click the open box icon at the top of the menu bar.
  7. Choose “Install from Zip File”
  8. Select the repository you just added.
  9. Wait for the repository to install. A notification will appear when it’s ready.
  10. Go back to the Add-ons menu and click the open box icon again.
  11. Choose “Install from repository”
  12. Find the add-on you’d like to install from the repository.
  13. Install the add-on and wait for the confirmation notification.
  14. Access your add-on from the main menu and enjoy your new content!

Watching NFL on Kodi – Official Add-ons

Most versions of Kodi come packaged with dozens of official add-ons. These provide everything from new interface skins to language packs, free video and music streams, and much more. There’s a lot of functionality built into Kodi from the start. You can even watch sports and NFL content!

To install the following add-ons, simply open your Kodi app, go to the main menu, then select Add-ons > Download. You’ll see a list of official Kodi repository offerings. Browse the list and find the service by name, then click to add it to your home menu.

Videos from NFL.com

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The name says it all. This add-on is included with the official Kodi repository and lets you watch video highlights from NFL.com on any device. It’s the same as going to the website, only the interface is a little easier to use.

NFL Teams Videos

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Another add-on that does exactly what its name promises. Watch videos from NFL teams’ official home pages, including highlights, interviews, and analyses of recent and upcoming games. A surprisingly convenient add-on, especially if you follow more than one team.

NBC Sports Live Extra

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Watch all NBC Sports and NBCSports Network coverage of live events right from your Kodi installation, all completely free and legal. If you live outside of the United States you’ll need to use a VPN and change your virtual location, otherwise the content will be inaccessible.

NFL Game Pass

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A convenient way to watch official streams from NFL Game Pass. Note that you’ll need to have an active account with NFL Game Pass in order to use this add-on.

Watching NFL on Kodi – Third Party Add-ons

AddictiveTips does not condone or encourage any violation of copyright restrictions. Please consider the law, victims, and risks of piracy before downloading copyrighted material without permission.

Unofficial third party apps are what make Kodi such an amazing piece of software. These add-ons extend the functionality of the base app to allow for streaming videos, music, and movies from sources around the world.

The downside to third party add-ons is that not all of them are reliable. Repositories are notorious for changing locations or disappearing entirely, streams are blocked or reconfigured on a regular basis, and some content is even obtained illegally. They can be a hassle, but the amount of content they deliver is worth the occasional bit of trouble.

The Kodi add-ons below have proven to be reliable sources for streaming sports, NFL content, movies, and other videos.

DON’T FORGET: Use a VPN when streaming through Kodi. IPVanish gives our readers an exclusive discount of 60% and you’ll only pay $4.87 a month to keep your browsing safe and private.

channel PEAR

One of the more robust streaming add-ons for Kodi, channel PEAR comes with an online component that lets you manage your video and live stream library from any browser. There’s a massive variety of channels to choose from, too, including NFL and sports streams from around the world. All you have to do is add them to your channel PEAR library and they’ll be available to stream through Kodi right away.

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It’s worth noting that channel PEAR limits the number of channels you can have to five. If you want to add more, you’ll need to upgrade to the paid premium service, which has no affiliation with Kodi or the channel PEAR add-on.

The fastest way to get channel PEAR up and running is to install from the github repository. The method is roughly the same as installing add-ons listed above.

How to add channel PEAR to Kodi:

  1. Download the channel PEAR zip file.
  2. Go to the Kodi main menu.
  3. Select “Add-ons”
  4. Click the open box icon at the top of the menu bar.
  5. Choose “Install from Zip File”
  6. Locate the channel PEAR file you downloaded earlier. It should be named something like this: plugin.video.channelPEAR-master.zip

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  1. Wait for the installation to complete.
  2. On your web browser, create a free account at channel PEAR’s website.
  3. Add channels to your library from the website.
  4. Click on Library > Pair Device
  5. Select Kodi from the dropdown list

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  1. Copy the custom URL.
  2. Go back to Kodi and right click on the channel PEAR add-on icon.
  3. Select “Add-on settings”
  4. Enter your library URL and save the changes.
  5. Re-open channel PEAR on your Kodi device and you’ll have access to your new library.

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Phoenix

When it comes to easy access to live sports streams, it’s tough to beat the Phoenix add-on. Installing this third party app gives you access to popular channels from both the US and the UK, including basketball, baseball, and the NFL. Outside of sports, Phoenix has a ton of content available to stream, giving you something to do while you wait for halftime to end.

Installing the Phoenix add-on is as easy as adding the Fusion repository, then installing Phoenix from the downloaded zip file. Once you open Phoenix you’ll find an entire category devoted to sports, including Sports Demon LIVE and Sports Replays.

How to install Phoenix on Kodi:

  1. Open Kodi on your local device.
  2. Click on the gear icon to enter the System menu.
  3. Go to File Manager > Add Source (you may need to click the double-dot to move to the top of the directory)
  4. Type in the following URL exactly as it appears: https://fusion.tvaddons.ag
  5. Name the new repository “Fusion”

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  1. Click “OK”.
  2. Go back to the Kodi main menu.
  3. Select “Add-ons”
  4. Click the open box icon at the top of the menu bar.
  5. Choose “Install from Zip File”
  6. Select “Fusion” followed by “kodi-repos”
  7. Search towards the bottom of the list for this file: repository.xmbchub-1.0.7.zip (Note that the version numbers may change)

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  1. Install the zip file.
  2. Go back to the Add-ons menu and click the open box icon again.
  3. Choose “Install from repository”
  4. Find “TVADDONS.ag Add-on Repository”
  5. Scroll down to “Video Add-ons”
  6. Select and install Phoenix.

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  1. When the installation is complete, you can access Phoenix from the main menu.

SportsDevil

SportsDevil goes well beyond the NFL to provide live streams for just about every sport imaginable. The add-on is extremely easy to use and offers a staggering number of video streams for free. SportsDevil also has a reputation for keeping its streams up to date. No dead links here, just a constant deluge of sports to keep you entertained.

To access SportsDevil and its NFL content, you’ll need to add SuperRepo to your Kodi installation. This will give you access to lots of other plug-ins in addition to SportsDevil.

How to install SportsDevil on Kodi:

  1. Open Kodi on your local device.
  2. Click on the gear icon to enter the System menu.
  3. Go to File Manager > Add Source (you may need to click the double-dot to move to the top of the directory)
  4. Type in the following URL exactly as it appears: http://srp.nu
  5. Name the new repository “SuperRepo”
  6. Click “OK”.
  7. Go back to the Kodi main menu.
  8. Select “Add-ons”
  9. Click the open box icon at the top of the menu bar.
  10. Choose “Install from Zip File”
  11. Select “SuperRepo” followed by your version name of Kodi.
  12. Select “All” to install the entire SuperRepo set of add-ons.

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  1. Go back to the Add-ons menu and click the open box icon again.
  2. Choose “Install from repository”
  3. Find and click “SuperRepo All”
  4. Scroll down to “Video Add-ons”
  5. Locate “SportsDevil Launcher” and install.

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  1. Access SportsDevil from the main menu when the installation is complete.

DON’T FORGET: Use a VPN when streaming through Kodi. IPVanish gives our readers an exclusive discount of 60% and you’ll only pay $4.87 a month to keep your browsing safe and private.

Castaway

Castaway is another multi-purpose streaming channel that provides access to a wide array of content. Its sports offerings are a little more robust and varied than the competition, which makes it a great choice for watching NFL games.

The best way to install Castaway is through the Fusion repository, which also features Phoenix mentioned above. If you already have Fusion installed, skip to step number seven.

How to install Castaway on Kodi:

  1. Open Kodi on your local device.
  2. Click on the gear icon to enter the System menu.
  3. Go to File Manager > Add Source (you may need to click the double-dot to move to the top of the directory)
  4. Type in the following URL exactly as it appears: https://fusion.tvaddons.ag
  5. Name the new repository “Fusion”
  6. Click “OK”.
  7. Go back to the Kodi main menu.
  8. Select “Add-ons”
  9. Click the open box icon at the top of the menu bar.
  10. Choose “Install from Zip File”
  11. Select “Fusion” followed by “begin-here”
  12. Install the file named plugin.program.indigo-1.0.4.zip (Note that the version numbers may change.)
  13. Install the zip file.
  14. Go back to the Add-ons menu and select the icon for Indigo.
  15. From within Indigo, navigate to Addon Installer > Sports Addons
  16. Choose “Castaway” from the top of the list.

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  1. Wait for the installation to complete, then access Castaway from the main menu.

NFL Replays

Can’t catch the game when it’s live? Don’t worry, NFL Replays is here to help! This handy add-on for Kodi gives you access to archived NFL games after they’ve already aired. If you can avoid spoiling the final score, you’ll have the perfect companion to watch sports at your leisure.

NFL Replays is available through the SuperRepo repository. If you already have it installed, skip to step number seven below.

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How to add NFL Replays to Kodi:

  1. Open Kodi on your local device.
  2. Click on the gear icon to enter the System menu.
  3. Go to File Manager > Add Source (you may need to click the double-dot to move to the top of the directory)
  4. Type in the following URL exactly as it appears: http://srp.nu
  5. Name the new repository “SuperRepo”
  6. Click “OK”.
  7. Go back to the Kodi main menu.
  8. Select “Add-ons”
  9. Click the open box icon at the top of the menu bar.
  10. Choose “Install from Zip File”
  11. Select “SuperRepo” followed by your version name of Kodi.

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  1. Select “All” to install the entire SuperRepo set of add-ons.
  2. Go back to the Add-ons menu and click the open box icon again.
  3. Choose “Install from repository”
  4. Find and click “SuperRepo All”
  5. Scroll down to “Video Add-ons”
  6. Locate “NFL Replays” and install

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  1. Access NFL Replays from the main menu when the installation is complete.

DON’T FORGET: Use a VPN when streaming through Kodi. IPVanish gives our readers an exclusive discount of 60% and you’ll only pay $4.87 a month to keep your browsing safe and private.

Using a VPN to Access Region Locked Content on Kodi

Kodi is location agnostic software, meaning anyone around the world can install and use it without limitation. Third party add-ons and the streams they draw from won’t necessarily share that same philosophy, however, especially when it comes to live sports. To ensure you never run into these frustrating limitations, make sure you run a VPN while streaming through Kodi.

VPNs offer a number of privacy and anonymity benefits that make them excellent tools for everyday use. They also give you the ability to select and change your virtual location with just a few clicks. Instead of attaching a local IP address when you go online, VPNs assign you an anonymous IP associated with one of their servers. All you have to do is choose which server you’d like to connect to and you’ll get an IP address associated with that country.

Using a VPN to access geo-restricted content is a simple but effective way to watch sports from around the world. Streaming services are notorious for blocking users in certain countries from watching their games, especially the NFL. With a VPN active and a Kodi installation with a few add-ons, you can easily circumvent these restrictions to watch whatever you want.

Is it Legal to Stream NFL on Kodi?

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Third party add-ons in Kodi work by locating data streams from around the internet and collecting them in a central location. They don’t actually create or provide the content you’re watching, they simply point to streams and funnel everything together. When you watch an NFL game in Kodi you’re connecting to some unrelated site for the stream. This raises the simple question of which service is violating which law, the content provider or the content deliverer, and if the viewer is at fault when they aren’t aware of the source of the file.

The indexing nature of Kodi and its various add-ons places it in a legal gray area. The laws vary depending on your location as well as the type of content you’re accessing, meaning there isn’t a clear yes or no answer to the question. This hasn’t stopped internet service providers from targeting Kodi users for litigation, however, which is another reason why you should always use a VPN when watching streams.

Streaming NFL to Your TV

Kodi is available on a wide variety of platforms, including mobile devices, laptops, tablets, and dedicated TV boxes. This means you don’t have to huddle in front of your desk to watch a good quality NFL stream. One of the easiest ways to push Kodi content to your TV is to install it on an Amazon Fire TV Stick. The compact and inexpensive device plugs into your television for easy access to all of the add-ons and extras mentioned above.

Installing Kodi on an Amazon Fire TV is easier than you might expect. You can even add a VPN to the device for the ultimate in convenient, private streaming.

Let us know how it all works out for you, below.

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