NFL Extra Points Credit Card review: Does this cash back card score big for football fans?

This offer is no longer available on our site: Chase Freedom Flex℠

For many die-hard football fans, a handful of trips to the home team’s stadium is an annual fall tradition.

A  2017 Gallup poll found that pro football is the most popular sport in America, and it’s not hard to imagine why. The NFL packs a lot of excitement into each year, and the fun doesn’t stop at the field, thanks to the NFL Extra Points Credit Card.

Let’s face it: NFL fans can easily find themselves spending a pretty penny each season on tickets, jerseys and other football-related adventures. That’s where the NFL Extra Points Credit Card comes into play.

With this card, you’ll earn two points per $1 spent on NFL and team purchases, like eligible tickets, in-stadium purchases, and official gear from NFLShop.com and team pro shops. You’ll also earn one point per $1 spent on all other purchases. (We’ll get into what those points mean a bit later.)

If you’re serious about football, you could score big with this rewards credit card and its $0 annual fee. But if you’re more of a casual fan, other cash back cards may offer more flexibility and, ultimately, better rewards.

Now let’s strap on our helmets and dig into the details of the NFL Extra Points Credit Card.

1. The rundown: Everything we like about the NFL Extra Points Credit Card
2. Heads up: What you should consider before applying
3. Do the math: How to get the most out of the NFL Extra Points Credit Card
4. Bottom line: Is the NFL Extra Points Credit Card right for you?

The rundown: Everything we like about the NFL Extra Points Credit Card

When you frequently attend NFL games or simply love to sport your favorite team’s gear, the NFL Extra Points Credit Card may be a great fit for you. Here’s what we like about it.

Earn 2 points per $1 on NFL and team purchases

You’ll earn two points per $1 spent on NFL and team purchases, which includes everything from eligible NFL tickets to jerseys and (if you’re a Packers fan) cheeseheads. You’ll also get one point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Kick off your earnings with a big-time bonus

This card comes with an impressive sign-up bonus: You’ll earn 10,000 points after spending $500 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening. That’s enough to redeem for a $100 cash back statement credit.

0% intro APR on balance transfers

Enjoy a 0% intro annual percentage rate for 15 billing cycles on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening. After that, a variable APR of 15.99%, 20.99% or 25.99% will apply.

Redeem points for NFL rewards or cash back

Dream of going to the Super Bowl or watching your team from the sidelines? You may be able to redeem points for these special opportunities — or simply take 1% cash back starting at 2,500 points for $25 cash back in the form of a statement credit.

Save 20% on purchases at NFLShop.com

Official gear doesn’t come cheap. But with this card, you can take $20 off every $100 you spend when using your card. The discount will be automatically calculated at the time of checkout.

Special financing on NFL tickets

Like gear, NFL tickets can be expensive. In 2019, the average NFL ticket price was approximately $102, according to a Statista report. If you use your card to buy tickets at a participating NFL team ticket office, you’ll get a 0% promotional APR for the first six billing cycles from the purchase date. (At the end of the promotional period, the variable APR outstanding purchase balance will be 15.99%, 20.99% or 25.99%). This benefit can really help if the whole family wants to catch a game, and it’ll give you a few months to pay off your purchase without worrying about interest.

Heads up: What you should consider before applying

While it offers cash back on all purchases, this card is definitely geared toward NFL fans. If that doesn’t sound like you, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere. Here’s a quick rundown of what to look out for before applying.

Limited rewards

If you aren’t already spending a lot on NFL-related purchases, you can likely find higher reward options elsewhere. And there are better credit cards out there that offer cash back bonuses on more common spending categories than NFL gear. We’ll explore some of those cards at the end of this article.

Not many perks for nonsports fans

This card comes packed with perks, but nearly all of them revolve around the NFL. So if you aren’t big into sports, you may not see much value in the discounts and perks this card offers.

Be careful when using special financing on NFL tickets

Sure, you’ll get a 0% promotional APR for six billing cycles from the purchase date, but the APR jumps to a variable 15.99%, 20.99% or 25.99% after that. We recommend only using this special financing offer if you’re sure you can pay off your tickets within six months. Otherwise, it could make those tickets even more expensive.

Do the math: How to get the most out of the NFL Extra Points Credit Card

With this card, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the most back on the purchases you already make. Yes, that includes NFL tickets.

Think about it: At an average cost of roughly $102 per ticket, a family of five can spend around $510 on NFL tickets for a single game. That’s more than 1,000 points earned on your card, or the equivalent of more than $10 in cash back. Multiply that by five or six games, and you’re looking at some nice savings over the course of a season.

Bottom line: Is the NFL Extra Points Credit Card right for you?

The NFL Extra Points Credit Card is an excellent choice for football fans who want to earn more on their NFL purchases. For those who want more earning options or aren’t super into sports, there are better options.

If you’re looking to earn cash back but don’t spend a lot on sports-related purchases, take a closer look at Chase Freedom Flex℠ or the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card. These might earn you more cash back on regular, everyday purchases — not as exciting, we know, but potentially more lucrative in the long run.