Friday night’s Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers clash in São Paulo is all set to be historic. It’s almost unbelievable that this year, the first NFL regular-season game is airing directly on YouTube.
It will be absolutely free for fans around the world. But one of the most talked-about figures involved isn’t Patrick Mahomes or Justin Herbert, it’s a 20-year-old streamer who answers to the name “IShowSpeed.”
How Is YouTube Changing the Broadcast?
With more than 43 million subscribers, Darren Watkins Jr., aka IShowSpeed, has built one of the biggest YouTube followings on the planet. Now, he’s part of the NFL’s big experiment, and the league is banking on him to bring millions of younger viewers to its broadcast.
Kickoff is at 8 p.m. ET on Sept. 5, with Rich Eisen and Hall of Fame QB Kurt Warner leading the traditional broadcast. That’s the straightforward part.
What’s different is the addition of YouTube’s “Watch With” option, streams where creators react live alongside the game. Speed headlines the group, and he won’t be alone. Comedian Tom Grossi (871,000 subscribers) and Spanish-speaking creators Robegrill (4.17 million) and SKabeche (5.95 million) are also part of the lineup.
Together, the four boast more than 50 million subscribers. Analysts believe Speed by himself could pull in 10 million viewers. His reach nearly triples that of the NFL’s own YouTube channel, which explains why he’s the centerpiece of this push.
What Sets IShowSpeed Apart?
Speed didn’t build his following by sticking to one lane. He started out streaming video games but quickly pivoted toward sports and big stunts. Racing Olympic champion Noah Lyles, appearing in charity soccer matches, and showing up courtside for NBA action are just a few of the ways he’s turned moments into must-watch content.
His love for Cristiano Ronaldo has become a running theme, but what really defines him is unpredictability. That energy has opened doors, from linkups with global stars like Tom Brady, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paul George, and Paul Pogba to being an admirer of Virat Kohli. It’s the blend of chaos and charisma that makes his streams hard to turn off.
What Else Has IShowSpeed Been Up To?
Speed isn’t stuck to a camera. He’s been crisscrossing the United States for the past few days, dropping into Philadelphia, New York, Washington, D.C., and Boston, filling every place with large crowds of fans. His international reach was evident in China, where fans mobbed him with gifts and signs, which clearly showed how much he resonates with younger generations.
Tom Brady shows love to IShowSpeed by gifting him a signed Cristiano Ronaldo rookie card 🥹🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/EcRg3OTXUq
— Speedy Updates (@SpeedUpdates1) August 28, 2025
Sports are still at the heart of his brand. His Cristiano Ronaldo fixation has become a perpetual gag, yet it also speaks to how easily he integrates himself into the world of sports. That combination of unpredictable dynamism and real enthusiasm is what makes him a wild card and precisely the sort of person YouTube needs fronting its NFL venture.
