ESPN is in talks with the NFL over the possibility of the sports body acquiring an equity stake in the Disney-owned channel.
The sports broadcaster currently holds the rights to screen 25 NFL games per season including the flagship Monday Night Football.
Reports in the New York Post suggest the talks have gone as far as a briefing to team owners and the Players Association.
The agreement would include NFL Media, including NFL Network and NFL RedZone.
Disney chief executive Bob Iger has been open about the issues of balancing a declining cable subs business with positive growth for ESPN+.
The addition of the NFL Media brands would provide significant additive value for Disney/ESPN subscribers in the United States.