NFL WebSocket API

Endpoint

• GET/api/v1/websocket/auth

• Each delivered message counts toward your monthly quota.
• The server pings every 2 minutes to keep connections open behind proxies.

Connect and subscribe to NFL

const auth = await fetch("https://www.realtimesportsapi.com/api/websocket/auth", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.RSA_API_KEY}` }
});
const { data } = await auth.json(); // { url, token, expiresIn: 3600 }

const ws = new WebSocket(`${data.url}?token=${data.token}`);
ws.onopen = () => {
  for (const event of ["event_score_change", "event_play", "event_final"]) {
    ws.send(JSON.stringify({ type: "subscribe", event, filters: { sport: "football", league: "nfl" } }));
  }
};
ws.onmessage = (msg) => console.log(JSON.parse(msg.data));

import os, json, requests, websocket  # pip install websocket-client

auth = requests.post(
    "https://www.realtimesportsapi.com/api/websocket/auth",
    headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['RSA_API_KEY']}"},
    timeout=10,
).json()["data"]

ws = websocket.create_connection(f"{auth['url']}?token={auth['token']}")
for event in ["event_score_change", "event_play", "event_final"]:
    ws.send(json.dumps({"type": "subscribe", "event": event,
                        "filters": {"sport": "football", "league": "nfl"}}))
while True:
    print(json.loads(ws.recv()))

Message types: event_score_change, event_live, event_status_change, event_play, event_final and event_odds_change. Tokens last an hour; reconnect with a fresh token. Each delivered message counts toward your plan's WebSocket allowance.

Rate limits and pricing

Every successful REST call counts as one call. Over the limit you get HTTP 429 with a Retry-After header. No SLA. Full pricing.

FAQ

Is there a free NFL WebSocket API?

WebSocket is on every paid plan from $29/month (on Starter, REST calls, WebSocket messages and webhook deliveries share 10,000 a month). The free key has a 500-message monthly preview on 1 connection, enough to see it working.

How fast are NFL updates over WebSocket?

Each event goes out about a second after our source sees it, which is typically 20-30 seconds behind live play. Fine for apps, alerts and scoreboards; not for in-play betting.

WebSocket or webhooks?

WebSocket suits an app or server that stays connected. Webhooks suit serverless code: we POST each event to your URL. Both are on every paid plan.

Related

• NFL API: every endpoint
• Sports WebSocket API: all leagues
• NFL schedule
• NFL injury and player availability API
• NFL play-by-play API
• NFL box score API
• NBA WebSocket API
• NFL WebSocket API