Do you consider Disney Plus the end-zone for sports movies? If not, you definitely should!
Whether you’re looking to find inspiration on the gridiron or just want to rewatch some of your favorite football films, this magical streaming service has something for every football fan.
From beloved classics like Remember the Titans to lesser-known gems that are sure to broaden your list of must-sees, check out my list of the best football movies on Disney Plus, with a few shows sprinkled in.
NOTE: This post may contain spoilers to movie or show plots. These movies and shows are available to stream on Disney+ in the US as of publication time, unless otherwise noted. Availability can change at any time.
New football movies on Disney Plus in 2023
The number of football flicks available isn’t as expansive as other categories, but Disney does add new films every now and then.
Here’s a quick list of what’s new this year:
- Air Bud: Golden Receiver (1998) – Added October 1, 2023
- Toy Story Funday Football (2023) – Livestream & Replay on October 1, 2023
Al Davis vs. the NFL (2021)
Director: Ken Rodgers
Starring: Al Davis, Pete Rozelle (both via deepfake technology!)
Genre: Documentary
Best For: Diehard NFL fans
Al Davis vs. the NFL tells the story of the long-running feud between controversial Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis and legendary NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle.
Al Davis vs. the NFL originally appeared in Volume IV, episode 9, of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series.
Air Bud: Golden Receiver (1998)
Director: Richard Martin
Starring: Kevin Zegers, Air Buddy
Genre: Family
Best for: Family movie night
The Disney movie Air Bud: Golden Receiver, aka Air Bud 2, is a fan-favorite and for good reason.
Not only does it highlight the beloved character of Air Bud, a gifted golden retriever with an impressive skillset, it also features the world of football in a unique and heartwarming way.
From the beginning of the film, viewers are drawn in by the unlikely friendship formed between Air Bud and his young human friend Josh and are continually entertained as they watch the talented dog take the field and impress all with his athletic prowess.
With themes of perseverance, friendship, and teamwork woven throughout, Air Bud: Golden Receiver is a must-see sports movie for all ages, making it perfect for a family movie night.
Also available to stream on Disney+ are the remaining Air Bud movies, as well as the spin-off Disney Buddies franchise.
The Book of Manning (2013)
Director: Rory Karpf
Starring: John Goodman, Archie Manning, Cooper Manning, Eli Manning, Olivia Manning, Peyton Manning
Genre: Documentary
Best For: Fans of the Manning brothers, Diehard NFL fans
The Book of Manning is an intimate look at NFL great Archie Manning and his family.
The unexpected passing of Manning’s father changed the way he raised his sons, Cooper, Peyton, and Eli.
Eli and Peyton went on to also play for the NFL. While Cooper suffered a football-career ending medical diagnosis in college, but became a sports commentator.
The Best That Never Was (2010)
Director: Jonathan Hock
Starring: Anthony Mackie
Genre: Documentary
Best For: College football fans
ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 documentary The Best that Never Was follows the story of football prodigy, Marcus Dupree.
This film wonderfully captures Dupree’s story and his struggles after committing to the University of Oklahoma.
The Best That Never Was originally appeared as part of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series in Volume I, episode 29.
Brian and the Boz (2014)
Director: Thaddeus D. Matula
Starring: Brian Bosworth
Genre: Documentary
Best For: College football fans, Seattle Seahawks fans
In Brian and the Boz, ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 documentary series turns its lens to examine Bosworth’s fascinating career.
From his brash beginnings at the University of Oklahoma, to his infamous NFL tenure with the Seattle Seahawks, this film paints an in-depth portrait of Bosworth from his own point of view, as he passes on lessons learned to his son.
Brian and the Boz originally appeared in Volume II, episode 23, of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series.
Catholics vs Convicts (2016)
Director: Patrick Creadon
Starring: Barry Alvarez, Lou Holtz, Jimmy Johnson, Tony Rice, Patrick Walsh
Genre: Documentary
Best For: College football fans
Ready to re-live the classic matchup between Notre Dame and the University of Miami?
Catholics vs Convicts, now available on Disney Plus, takes you back to one of college football’s greatest rivalries.
Tune in for a thrilling journey full of big plays and intense moments in this much hyped 1988 game between the two rivals.
Although this happened long before my years at University of Miami, let me tell you – this rivalry still exists to this day, decades later!
Catholics vs. Convicts originally appeared in Volume III, episode 13, of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series.
Deion’s Double Play (2019)
Director: Erik Powers, Ken Rodgers
Starring: Ludacris
Genre: Documentary
Best For: Football and baseball fans
This fun ESPN documentary captures the time when Deion Sanders, an athlete who played in both the NFL and MLB.
One year, the seasons overlapped for 24 hours, leading Sanders to juggle both.
Through interviews with current and former athletes, coaches, and family members, fans are transported back in time to experience this iconic moment up close.
Deion’s Double Play originally appeared in Volume III, episode 27, of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series.
Elway to Marino (2013)
Director: Ken Rodgers
Starring: Tom Selleck, Chris Berman, Martin Demoff, John Elway, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino
Genre: Documentary
Best For: Die-hard NFL fans
ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 series takes us back in time to the infamous NFL draft of 1983.
During that time, a whopping 6 quarterbacks were selected in the first round – the most ever. This included famous quarterbacks, John Elway and Dan Marino.
Elway to Marino originally appeared in Volume II, episode 8, of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series.
Four Falls of Buffalo (2015)
Director: Ken Rodgers
Starring: William Fichtner, Jim Kelly, Andre Reed, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas
Genre: Documentary
Best For: Buffalo Bills fans
Four Falls of Buffalo focuses on the NFL’s Buffalo Bills in the 1990s, when the team was at the top of their game.
From looking back at all 4 of their Super Bowl losses to telling compelling personal stories from team members and fans alike, Four Falls of Buffalo is about more than just a sports drama.
It’s about how much we can take away from our experiences and how important it is to stay resilient through adversity.
Four Falls of Buffalo originally appeared as part of ESPN’s 30 For 30 series in Volume III, episode 5.
The Game Plan (2007)
Director: Andy Fickman
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Madison Pettis
Genre: Comedy
Best For: Family movie night, The Rock fans
In The Game Plan we meet Joe Kingman (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), a football star and notorious bachelor.
Until one day, a young girl named Peyton (Madison Pettis) shows up on his doorstep, claiming to be his daughter.
Unable to get ahold of Peyton’s mom, he takes the girl in. Suddenly he’s gone from bachelor of the year to dad of the year, as he juggles his career with ballet lessons and raising a girl.
But suddenly someone steps in to take Peyton – and it’s not who you’d expect. Will the bond they built help keep them together?
Goofy: How to Play Football (1944)
Director: Jack Kinney
Starring: Pinto Colvig
Genre: Animation
Best For: Goofy fans
In Goofy: How to Play Football everyone’s favorite goofball, Goofy, shows us what football is all about.
Attempted interceptions in tree tops, fumbles off fire hydrants, and accidental touchdowns are just a few of the funny moments you can expect in this 7-minute short film.
The Gospel According to Mac (2015)
Director: Jim Podhoretz
Starring: Jeffrey Wright
Genre: Documentary
Best For: College football fans
ESPN Films’ documentary The Gospel According to Mac provides an inspirational look at Bill McCartney, aka Coach Mac.
As a three-time choice for the Coach of the Year Award and the mastermind behind the University of Colorado-Boulder Buffaloes’ road to victory in 1990, McCartney was no stranger to success.
The documentary includes his beginnings as a freshman player through his meteoric rise as the head coach of Colorado Buffaloes, as well as how his faith made it all happen.
The Gospel According to Mac originally appeared in Volume III, episode 3 of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series.
Gus (1976)
Director: Vincent McEveety
Starring: Edward Asner, Don Knotts
Genre: Family
Best For: Gen X football fans
Gus is a charming story of football-playing mule brought in for half-time entertainment for an NFL team. Plus, the team owner needs to make money to pay off debts!
But Gus does so well, they end up putting him on the team as a kicker! Can a mule really help the team win?
Invincible (2005)
Director: Ericson Core
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Kirk Acevedo, Elizabeth Banks, Kevin Conway, Greg Kinnear, Michael Rispoli
Genre: Family
Best For: Philadelphia Eagles fans, Marky Mark fans
Everyone loves a great underdog story, and Disney’s Invincible is perhaps the best underdog story to hit the screen yet.
Starring Mark Wahlberg as Vince Papale, this movie tells the inspiring tale of an average guy who gets a chance to fulfill his dreams of playing for the Philadelphia Eagles.
With every obstacle he faces, Papale rises to the challenge and proves that anything is possible with sheer grit and determination.
Whether you’re cheering on this underdog throughout his exhilarating journey or simply enjoying some football nostalgia, make sure to watch Invincible on Disney+!
Pony Excess (2010)
Director: Thaddeus D. Matula
Starring: Patrick Duffy
Genre: Documentary
Best For: College football fans
ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 series brings another football documentary to add to your viewing list.
Pony Excess digs into the story of Southern Methodist University in Dallas and their powerhouse football program in the 1990s.
That is, until they were caught cheating and penalized by the NCAA.
Pony Excess originally appeared in ESPN’s 30 for 30 series in Volume 1, episode 30.
Remember the Titans (2000)
Director: Boaz Yakin
Starring: Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Donald Faison, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst, Ethan Suplee
Genre: Drama
Best For: Family movie night
Remember The Titans follows the story of football coach Herman Boone and his attempts to unify a newly integrated football team from T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia during the early 1970s.
As one of the most beloved football movies on Disney Plus, it is filled with inspiring dialogue, memorable scenes, and iconic performances from Denzel Washington, Will Patton, and others.
Remember The Titans reigns as a prime example for those who seek courage and unity in an era of cultural polarization.
Run Ricky Run (2010)
Director: Sean Pamphilon
Starring: Ricky Williams
Genre: Documentary
Best For: Hardcore NFL fans
Run Ricky Run tells the story of former Miami Dolphin running back Ricky Williams.
Williams retired early from the NFL after a string of failed drug tests. After spending a year living in a tent in Australia, he returned to the game.
The documentary was filmed as it happened and up to a few years after his return to the NFL.
Run Ricky Run originally appeared in ESPN’s 30 for 30 series in Volume I, episode 12.
Safety (2020)
Director: Reginald Hudlin
Starring: Jay Reeves, Thaddeus J. Mixon, Corinne Foxx
Genre: Drama
Best For: College football fans, Family movie night
Break out the tissues, because you’re gonna need them for this Disney Plus original movie!
Safety follows the true story of Ray McElrathbey, a football player at Clemson University during the 2000s.
McElrathbey somehow juggled playing college football, going to school, and raising his 11-year-old brother, Fahmarr, after their mother relapses on drugs.
Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? (2009)
Director: Mike Tollin
Starring: Charley Steiner, Donald Trump
Genre: Documentary
Best For: Die-hard football fans
ESPN Films’ Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? takes a deep dive into the rise and fall of the United States Football League (USFL).
This documentary dives into the short life of the USFL and what led to its fall.
Did it grow too quickly? Was it Donald Trump’s insistence that they take on the NFL and move the season to the Fall? Or was the NFL simply too big of a force to take on?
Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? originally appeared as part of ESPN’s 30 For 30 series in Volume I, episode 3.
Toy Story Funday Football (2023)
Genre: Animation
Best For: Families, Pixar fans
Sports fans were in for a delightful treat on October 1, 2023 as ESPN presented a unique alternative broadcast of the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars game that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, England.
Dubbed Toy Story Funday Football, this live event not only provided a refreshing take on the usual sports commentary, but it also brought iconic characters from the beloved Pixar franchise to the forefront.
From the beloved green aliens to main characters like Woody and Buzz, each of these characters were charmingly integrated into the football narrative, thrilling audiences young and old alike.
The game was not only an action-packed event between two determined teams, but it was also an entertaining showcase of creativity and imagination.
For those who may have missed the live broadcast, a replay is available to stream on Disney+.
There’s no word yet on whether ESPN will team up with the NFL and Disney to do another broadcast like this. But something tells me this may have been a test run for future specials – the Super Bowl perhaps??
Trojan War (2015)
Director: Aaron Rahsaan Thomas
Starring: Michael B. Jordan
Genre: Documentary
Best For: College football fans
The ESPN Films documentary Trojan War details the University of Southern California Trojans’ thrilling rise to national prominence during Coach Pete Carroll’s era.
Trojan War originally appeared as part of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series in Volume III, episode 1.
The Two Bills (2018)
Director: Ken Rodgers
Starring: Bill Belichick, Bill Parcell
Genre: Documentary
Best For: Die-hard NFL fans
NFL Films and ESPN Films collaborated to give viewers a glimpse into two of the most successful coaches in NFL history, Bill Parcell and Bill Belichick.
We look into the lives and coaching strategies of both Bills, including their long friendship to their falling out.
The Two Bills originally appeared in Volume III, episode 23, of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series.
Year of the Scab (2017)
Director: John Dorsey
Starring: Bradford Hastings
Genre: Documentary
Best For: Die-hard NFL fans
ESPN Films shines a light on the 1987 NFL football player strike in Year of the Scab.
With no players, the league brought in no-name athletes, aka scabs, giving many hopefuls one last chance.
Year of the Scab originally appeared in Volume III, episode 20, of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series.
Youngstown Boys (2013)
Director: Jeff & Michael Zimbalist
Starring: Maurice Clarett
Genre: Documentary
Best For: College football fans
Just in time for college football season, ESPN Films brings you the captivating documentary, Youngstown Boys.
This installment of their 30 for 30 series delves into the rise and fall of former Ohio State University running back, Maurice Clarett, alongside his coach, Jim Tressel.
Youngstown Boys originally appeared as part of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series in Volume II, episode 15.
BONUS: Becoming, Episode 10 with Rob Gronkowski (2020)
Director: Dan Howlett
Starring: Rob Gronkowski
Genre: Docuseries
Best For: New England Patriots fans
The Disney Plus series Becoming tells the stories of how celebrities and athletes became who they are.
In season 1, episode 10, we get the story of NFL tight end, Rob Gronkowski.
His journey began with playing for the University of Arizona and then joining the New England Patriots in 2010.
After nine seasons with the Pats, he shocked fans with his retirement in 2019. He came back later that year only to get traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has since retired permanently.
Now viewers get an up close and personal look at Gronkowski’s life off the field as we follow him on his compelling journey.
The Park Pixie’s top picks
Here are my top picks for football movies on Disney+:
- Best drama: Remember the Titans (2000)
- Best comedy: The Game Plan (2007)
- Best true story: Invincible (2005)
- Best documentary: The Two Bills (2018)
What are your favorite football movies on Disney Plus?
With so many football movies available to watch on Disney Plus, sports fans can make the most of their streaming subscription.
From dramatic films like Remember the Titans to shorts like Goofy: How to Play Football, Disney Plus is quickly becoming a go-to destination for sports fans.
So break out the popcorn and tackle a football movie marathon with your Disney+ subscription today!
Next up, check out these posts:
About the author
Meg Frost is the creator of The Park Pixie, where she covers Disney World, Disney+, and Disney fandom.
She holds an M.A. in Journalism from Northeastern University and B.S. in Communication & American Studies from University of Miami in Florida.
This post was originally published March 23, 2023. It was last updated October 1, 2023.
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