The best shows on ESPN+ right now
ESPN is constantly adding new programming to ESPN+ every month. With live sporting events, debate-style roundtables, and highlight-driven presentations, ESPN and its family of networks are still the best destinations for round-the-clock sports coverage. With multiple networks and a streaming service, ESPN continues to make entertaining, informative, and thought-provoking content about every major sport. From 30 for 30 documentaries like Four Falls of Buffalo to video podcasts like DC & RC, ESPN+’s programming will keep fans entertained for hours.
Whether you love the thrills of a live sporting event or enjoy watching expert analysts break down each game, ESPN+ is the perfect service for sports fans. Scrolling through the extensive ESPN+ library can be daunting, so we compiled a list of some of the best shows to watch on the ESPN+ streaming service.
Looking for more shows to watch? We have guides to the best shows on Netflix, the best shows on Hulu, the best shows on Disney+, and the best shows on Amazon Prime Video.
Sue's Places (2024) new
1 Season
Genre Comedy
Cast Sue Bird, Peyton Manning, Jason Sudeikis
Peyton Manning is the architect of The Places Universe, a talk series hosted by former athletes exploring the history of a sport. Series within The Places Universe include Eli’s Places with Eli Manning for football, P.K.’s Places with P.K. Subban for hockey, and McEnroe’s Places with John McEnroe for tennis. The newest addition to The Places Universe is Sue’s Places with Sue Bird, a four-time WNBA and two-time NCAA Champion.
In Sue’s Places, Bird explains the rich traditions in men’s and women’s college basketball. In the first episode, Bird returned to her alma mater, the University of Connecticut, for a conversation with her legendary coach, Geno Auriemma. Future episodes of Sue’s Places will feature Jason Sudeikis examining Kansas basketball, Caitlin Clark dissecting her three-point shot, and Mike Krzyzewski breaking down the rivalry between Duke and North Carolina.
DC & RC (2021) new
Genre Talk
Cast Daniel Cormier, Ryan Clark
Daniel Cormier is a former UFC two-division champion. Ryan Clark is a former NFL safety and Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Together, they host DC & RC, a talk show specializing in UFC coverage. As a former fighter and current commentator, Cormier provides expert analysis of each fight and brings firsthand experience to each UFC topic.
Clark is a UFC superfan who loves following and watching the sport. Together, the duo debate news within the MMA world and predict the winners of future UFC events. Cormier and Clark are Louisiana natives, so the show feels like two friends hanging out and talking about the sport they love.
Four Falls of Buffalo (2015) new
102m
Genre Documentary
Stars William Fichtner, Troy Aikman, Bill Belichick
Directed by Ken Rodgers
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more passionate, loyal, and enthusiastic NFL fan base than that of the Buffalo Bills. In the early 1990s, the Bills rose to prominence as one of the best teams in the NFL. After a tough 1989 season, the Bills made the Super Bowl the following year. This began a remarkable streak of AFC Championship victories and a record-breaking four straight Super Bowl appearances.
However, luck was not on the Bills’ side, as they lost all four. Four Falls of Buffalo explores the rise of the Buffalo Bills and how they managed to cope with heartbreak year after year. Former players interviewed for the project include Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith, Andre Reed, and Scott Norwood.
The Pat McAfee Show (2017)
Imdb: 8.5/10
7 Seasons
Genre Talk
Cast Pat McAfee
Created by Pat McAfee
Pat McAfee is a lightning rod in the world of sports. The former NFL punter-turned-media personality is on a historic rise to superstardom, and one of his most popular ventures is The Pat McAfee Show. The weekly sports radio show airs from noon to 3 p.m. ET every Monday through Friday on ESPN, ESPN+, and ESPN’s YouTube Channel. The first two hours are available on all three, but only ESPN+ simulcasts all three hours.
Based in Indianapolis, McAfee uses his NFL experience and comedic background to put a unique and entertaining spin on the world of sports. Surrounded by a cast of eccentric personalities, including A.J. Hawk and Ty Schmit, McAfee’s effortless show plays like a conversation sports fans would have at a bar over a beer. Because of his popularity and brand recognition, McAfee gets some of the best interviews from some of the biggest names in sports, including Aaron Rodgers and Nick Saban.
The Luckiest Guy in the World (2023)
Imdb: 8.3/10
1 Season
Genre Documentary
Cast Bill Walton, Larry Bird, Robert Parish
Created by Steve James
Bill Walton is one of the zaniest and most colorful personalities in basketball. To say Walton is unique would be an understatement. Walton is the only basketball analyst who will explain the importance of the pick and roll, the legacy of The Grateful Dead, and his experiences with marijuana in the same broadcast. Walton’s free-spirited personality and Hall of Fame career became the subject of The Luckiest Guy in the World, a 30 for 30 docuseries from Steve James, the award-winning documentarian behind Hoop Dreams and Life Itself.
At nearly seven feet tall, Walton became one of basketball’s most feared players, dominating at UCLA under the legendary John Wooden before playing in the NBA for 14 years, where he would win the MVP and two NBA Championships. Yet, Walton is much more than a basketball player, as the tie-dye-wearing big man remained true to himself on and off the court.
TrueSouth (2018)
Imdb: 9.1/10
5 Seasons
Genre Reality
Cast John T. Edge
Created by Wright Thompson
Southern food and culture come to the forefront in TrueSouth. Hosted by four-time James Beard Award winner John T. Edge and executive produced by two-time New York Times bestselling author and ESPN senior writer Wright Thompson, TrueSouth focuses on two food stories from one place to explore Southern identities and beliefs.
Season 6’s locations include Hot Springs, Arkansas; The Black Belt, Alabama; St. Augustine, Florida; and Dublin, Georgia. They say the best way to experience a culture is through food, and Edge showcases local cuisines and restaurants to better understand the people and their customs.
McEnroe’s Places (2023)
1 Season
Genre Comedy
Cast John McEnroe
John McEnroe is one of the greatest tennis players to ever pick up a racket. From his fiery tirades to his spectacular skill, McEnroe was a lightning rod for the sport. Now, McEnroe takes his unique personality to television in McEnroe’s Places, an expansion of Peyton Manning’s Places franchise.
In the series, McEnroe explores the history of tennis and follows its evolution from a backyard game to a global sport. McEnroe interviews some of the game’s best and most popular current and former players, including Taylor Fritz, Rod Laver, Maria Sharapova, Chris Evert, Patrick McEnroe, and Novak Djokovic.
Southern Hoops: A History of SEC Basketball (2023)
1 Season
Genre Documentary
The origins of SEC basketball are explored through the seven-part series Southern Hoops: A History of SEC Basketball. On the men’s side, Southern Hoops chronicles the history of SEC basketball, including Vanderbilt participating in the first game in 1893. Other seminal moments include the 1948 Kentucky team winning the SEC’s first national title under Adolph Rupp.
For the women’s game, the series depicts legendary coaches, such as Tennessee’s Pat Summitt and South Carolina’s Dawn Staley, who turned their programs into national powers. Southern Hoops also shines a light on the civil rights movement and its impact on basketball in the SEC.
Deion's Double Play (2019)
Imdb: 6.7/10
60m
Genre Documentary
Stars Deion Sanders, Ludacris
Directed by Ken Rodgers, Erik Powers
There’s an argument to be made that the greatest athlete to ever play professional sports is Deion Sanders. Most professional athletes focus on playing one sport. Sanders, however, was so talented that he played two: football and baseball. Sanders playing in the NFL and MLB is a remarkable feat, but the fact that he found success in both sports is truly unfathomable.
Deion’s Double Play chronicles Sanders’ attempt in 1992 to play two games for the Atlanta Braves and one game for the Atlanta Falcons within 24 hours. Even though the events were in different cities located 1,000 miles apart, if one athlete could pull off the impossible, it was Deion.
Once Upon A Time In Anaheim (2023)
55m
Genre Documentary
Stars Steven Brill, Michael Eisner, Marguerite Moreau
Directed by Scott Cikowski, Russell Dinallo
Usually, sports movies are based on real teams or players. In the case of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, the movie inspired the team. In 1992, a ragtag group of peewee hockey players rallied under coach Gordon Bombay to win the Minnesota State Championship in The Mighty Ducks. The film became a surprise hit at the box office, earning $50 million against a $14 million budget. One year later, Disney CEO Michael Eisner, inspired by the underdog message of the film, brought the Mighty Ducks to life by bringing pro hockey to Anaheim.
Without players or coaches, Eisner assembled a hockey franchise within one year, and they became the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. At first, the team struggled, becoming one of the worst teams in the NHL. Once Upon A Time In Anaheim chronicles the early days of the Mighty Ducks and their journey from the laughing stock of the league to Stanley Cup contenders.
144 (2021)
90m
Genre Documentary
Stars Chiney Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, Tianna Hawkins
Directed by Lauren Stowell, Jenna Contreras
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted many professional sports leagues, including the WNBA. The WNBA typically plays a spring to early fall schedule, but COVID-19 jeopardized the league as canceling the season became a legitimate option. However, the players, coaches, and WNBA management agreed to play in a bubble at IMG Academy, a single site where every game would be played in a shortened season.
144 is the story of how the bubble came to be as 144 players across 12 teams played 147 games from July to October 2020. The documentary also depicts how the league handled social justice and activism among players at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement.
The Tournament: A History of ACC Men's Basketball (2022)
Imdb: 8.4/10
1 Season
Genre Documentary
Cast Jack Coleman
The story of how one of the premier college basketball tournaments came to be is the subject of The Tournament: A History of ACC Men’s Basketball. The 10-part series covers different eras of the conference, starting with how the original tournament in 1954. At that time, the NCAA Tournament awarded just one berth per conference. There were no at-large bids like there are in today’s NCAA tournament.
The ACC revolutionized college basketball by becoming the only league to determine which team would win the conference with a tournament to crown a champion. From Dean Smith and Mike Krzyzewski to Ralph Sampson and Christian Laettner, The Tournament highlights some of the most influential coaches and players in the game’s history. It’s a must-watch for any college basketball fan.
SportsCenter (1979)
Imdb: 8.1/10
1 Season
Genre News
Cast Scott Van Pelt, Hannah Storm, Kevin Negandhi
Created by John A. Walsh
If you’ve ever watched ESPN, the jingle DaDaDa, DaDaDa is probably in your mind. After 40-plus years, SportsCenter is still ESPN’s flagship program. The sporting news program changed the way the media covers sports.
With highlight clips, news packages, in-depth analysis, and interviews, SportsCenter provides up-to-the-minute information on every major sport. What started as a show that would air once a day has progressed to over 12 live shows daily. The series continues to serve as a go-to program for many sports fans looking to stay up-to-date on their favorite teams and leagues.
Player 54: Chasing the XFL Dream (2023)
Imdb: 8.4/10
1 Season
Genre Documentary
Cast Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia
The XFL has its version of the NFL’s Hard Knocks with Player 54: Chasing the XFL Dream. The docuseries focuses on the creation of the league under new ownership from Dany Garcia (Black Adam) and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (Red Notice). After the league filed for bankruptcy in April 2020, Garcia and Johnson purchased the league in August 2020, and the league began its inaugural season in February 2023.
The 54 symbolizes the odd-man out of an NFL roster, which only carries 53 players. The series focuses on the dreamers of the XFL, the castoff football players and coaches looking to continue their careers in the sport they love.
On The Clock (2023)
1 Season
Genre Documentary
Cast Archie Manning, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning
Arguably the most important position in professional sports is quarterback. A good quarterback can positively set an NFL franchise up for the next decade, but a bad quarterback can set a team back for years. Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, two Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks, decided to evaluate and mentor the top four prospects at the position ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft.
The result became On The Clock, a four-part original series that chronicles the journey of Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Kentucky’s Will Levis, and Florida’s Anthony Richardson, from the 2022 college football season to the NFL Draft. The Manning brothers provide an insightful look into the pressures of being a top quarterback and what it takes to succeed at the position.
Fate of a Sport (2022)
Imdb: 8.9/10
100m
Genre Documentary
Stars Paul Rabil
Directed by Michael Doneger
Lacrosse is typically viewed as a niche sport that can never become as popular as football, basketball, baseball, and hockey, especially at the professional level. There was a running joke that pro lacrosse players needed 9-to-5 jobs during the week to support themselves due to lacrosse’s low salaries. In 2020, one man, Paul Rabil, one of the greatest pro players to ever pick up a stick, changed the trajectory of the sport.
Fate of a Sport depicts Rabil’s pursuit to create his own professional lacrosse league, which would become the Premiere Lacrosse League (PLL). Imagine Michael Jordan decided to create his basketball league while on the Chicago Bulls or Derek Jeter attempted to start another baseball league as a member of the New York Yankees. That’s essentially what Rabil tried to do and succeeded. Fate of a Sport is a fascinating view into how one player and his older brother strived to change professional lacrosse.
UFC Embedded (2014)
Imdb: 8.3/10
6 Seasons
Genre Sports
Cast Bruce Buffer, Dana White, Joe Rogan, Daniel Cormier
Go behind the scenes in the life of an MMA fighter in UFC Embedded. Think of UFC Embedded as MMA’s version of Hard Knocks. Before every pay-per-view event, the UFC documents the days leading up to fight night through the eyes of the fighters on the main card. It’s an all-access video blog series that features interviews with the fighters, family members, friends, and coaches.
From training in the gym and sparring with teammates to signing autographs and making media appearances, the series chronicles every aspect of fight week, providing the fans with an inside look into what it takes to be a UFC athlete.
Eli's Places (2021)
Imdb: 7.9/10
2 Seasons
Genre Talk
Cast Eli Manning
Eli Manning explores the intricacies and wonders of college football in Eli’s Places. Serving as the spinoff to Peyton’s Places, Eli’s Places focuses on college football as the youngest Manning brother travels around the country, exploring what makes college football a way of life.
Eli travels to some of college football’s most iconic locations, such as Notre Dame and the Rose Bowl, and interviews legends of the sport along the way, including Jim McMahon and Tim Tebow. Eli even went undercover at Penn State walk-on tryouts as “Chad Powers” in one of the standout episodes of season 2. Eli’s Places is a fun, upbeat view of a game loved by so many fans nationwide.
30 for 30 (2009)
Imdb: 8.8/10
4 Seasons
Genre Documentary
Created by Connor Schell, Bill Simmons, John Dahl
ESPN’s most highly-acclaimed documentary series is 30 for 30. Debuting in 2009, 30 for 30 is a series of documentary films tackling landmark moments in sports history and the eccentric characters involved in each event. There have been over 100 films in the 30 for 30 series, including The U, an inside look into the University of Miami’s football team in the 1980s; Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. the New York Knicks, a view into the rivalry between Reggie Miller and his archrivals; The Fab Five, the story of the fantastic freshmen of the 1991 Michigan men’s basketball team; and Once Brothers, the tragic tale of the friendship between two basketball players, Croatian Dra?en Petrovi? and Serbian Vlade Divac. Over 13 years, 30 for 30 has won multiple Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award.
Vince's Places (2022)
Imdb: 9.2/10
1 Season
Cast Vince Carter
Peyton’s Places enters the world of basketball in the spinoff Vince’s Places. Hosted by future NBA Hall of Famer Vince Carter, Vince’s Places explores the sport of basketball and its cultural footprint in 2023. In season 1, Carter spoke with some of the NBA’s greatest players ever, including Patrick Ewing, Gary Payton, Dominique Wilkins, Dirk Nowitzki, and “The Logo” Jerry West. From tracing basketball to its humble beginnings in 1891 to exploring seminal moments in the game’s history like the 1985 NBA Draft Lottery, Vince’s Places is the perfect series for basketball fans and historians.
The Last Dance (2020)
Metacritic: 9 %
Imdb: 9.1/10
1 Season
Genre Documentary
Cast Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman
Created by Michael Tollin
Michael Jordan is one of the most important sports figures of the last 50 years. As one of the greatest basketball players ever, Jordan changed the entire sport due to his unique skillset and innate drive to succeed. Jordan’s journey from talented player to NBA icon is the subject of The Last Dance. The series follows Jordan and the Chicago Bills during the 1997-1998 season, which would be the last season of the Bulls’ dynasty, while interweaving stories of Jordan’s rise in the ’80s and ’90s. With incredible interviews from players and coaches, The Last Dance is one of the most fascinating sports documentaries in recent memory.
Peyton's Places (2019)
Imdb: 8.7/10
3 Seasons
Genre Talk
Cast Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning is best known for his role on the football field, where he made his mark as one of the five best quarterbacks in NFL history. Manning’s work ethic and hardworking persona became his trademarks. However, Manning is quite the entertainer off the field and hosts a show on ESPN+ called Peyton’s Places. In the documentary series, Manning interviews an impressive guest roster of players, coaches, and celebrities as he explores pivotal moments that affected the NFL on and off the field. Three seasons in, Manning has interviewed NFL legends such as John Elway and Joe Montana, as well as hilarious comedians such as Jay Leno and Keegan-Michael Key.
Bananaland (2022)
Imdb: 9.2/10
1 Season
Genre Documentary
Cast Jesse Cole
There are baseball teams, and then there are the Savannah Bananas. Without question, the Bananas are the most unique baseball team in the world. Led by their eccentric owner, Jesse Cole, the Bananas focus on giving fans the most entertaining experience at a ballpark rather than an ordinary game of baseball. From choreographed dance routines in the infield to animated batter walkups, the Bananas are the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball. Bananaland goes inside the operation’s attempt to create the “greatest show in sports.”
The Ultimate Fighter (2005)
Imdb: 7.9/10
30 Seasons
Genre Reality
Created by Frank Fertitta III, Dana White
The Ultimate Fighter is the UFC’s version of a reality show. It’s the perfect blend of competition and drama to depict one fighter’s journey to the UFC. The premise of The Ultimate Fighter is to bring in a group of fighters to battle it out in a tournament to see who is the best mixed martial artist. Winning a bout keeps a fighter in the competition and losing eliminates them from the show. It all culminates in one final fight as the winner receives a UFC contract and becomes the Ultimate Fighter Champion. The show has been responsible for kick-starting the careers of UFC champions like Michael Bisping, Tony Ferguson, Kamaru Usman, T.J. Dillashaw, and Rose Namajunas.
Detail: From The Mind of Daniel Cormier (2019)
3 Seasons
Genre Talk
Cast Daniel Cormier
What is it like to be in a UFC ring? What separates the good fighters from the great fighters? What types of strategies does a fighter incorporate to win a fight? Exploring these questions is the basis for Detail: From The Mind of Daniel Cormier. In Detail, the former UFC Champion breaks down some of the sport’s greatest athletes. From Conor McGregor and Kamara Usman to Amanda Nunes and Israel Adesanya, Cormier provides expert analysis and in-depth explanations of how each fighter became a champion. It’s a must-watch for any UFC fan looking to understand what goes on inside the octagon.
Man in the Arena: Tom Brady (2021)
Imdb: 8.6/10
1 Season
Genre Documentary
Cast Tom Brady
Like Michael Jordan in The Last Dance, the life and career of Tom Brady received the docuseries treatment in Man in the Arena. The 10-episode series predominantly follows Brady’s tenure with the New England Patriots, focusing on his time spent as the team’s quarterback from 2001-2019. Each episode is centered around Brady’s Super Bowl appearances: nine with the Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. From getting called into action as a backup in 2001 to chasing an undefeated season in 2007, Brady’s football résumé is unmatched. Man in the Arena also spotlights the man off the field, highlighted by his high-profile marriage to and supermodel Gisele Bündchen.
The Captain (2022)
Imdb: 8.6/10
1 Season
Genre Documentary
Cast Derek Jeter
One of the most prestigious titles an athlete can hold is captain of the New York Yankees. Derek Jeter became the 15th captain of the Yankees in 2003 on his way to becoming a Hall of Fame shortstop. That’s only part of the story, as Jeter gives a firsthand account of his life in The Captain. Through extensive interviews with friends, family members, teammates, and Jeter himself, The Captain provides insight into one of the most iconic baseball figures of the last 30 years. Known for protecting his private life, Jeter surprisingly opens up about key moments on and off the diamond. Throughout the seven episodes, Jeter candidly describes hot-button topics such as winning five World Series titles, his relationship with Alex Rodriguez, and becoming New York City’s most eligible bachelor.
NFL Primetime (1970)
Imdb: 7.5/10
1 Season
Genre Sports
Cast Chris Berman, Booger McFarland
NFL Primetime, one of the most iconic football highlight shows, is now exclusively on ESPN+. NFL Primetime dates back to 1987 when host Chris Berman and analyst Tom Jackson ran through the NFL’s Sunday slate of games. With iconic catchphrases from Berman and catchy music playing during the highlights, NFL Primetime became a staple program for every football fan. After going off the air in 2005, NFL Primetime returned in 2019 as an ESPN+ digital series. Once again, Berman is the host, but this time, he’s joined by ESPN analyst Booger McFarland. Berman hasn’t changed his style at all, so expect a lot of rumbling, bumbling, and stumbling in each highlight.
America's Caddie (2020)
1 Season
Cast Michael Collins
Michael Collins is an unconventional, energetic, and passionate media personality who loves one thing and one thing only: golf. Collins brings his comedic persona and golf expertise to his series America’s Caddie. As a longtime caddie and ESPN golf analyst, Collins presents America’s Caddie as a magazine-style road show. Collins interviews past and present golfers as he hits the road to preview some of the PGA Tour’s most prestigious events. America’s Caddie has featured interviews with Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed, Gary Player, and Jack Nicklaus.
Dana White's Contender Series (2017)
Imdb: 8.0/10
6 Seasons
Genre Reality
Cast Dana White, Sean Shelby, Mick Maynard
UFC President Dana White is always looking for new talent. The Contender Series is a way for White to find new athletes for the UFC through a series of fights between competitors. If White is impressed with a fighter, he can offer them a contract. There is no limit to how many contracts White can offer per event. Notable fighters who competed in The Contender Series include Sean O’Malley, Kevin Holland, Ricky Simón, and Dan Ige.
