Last Thursday night’s NFL Kickoff-delayed episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon started later than ever but hit a ratings home run. The broadcast captured 15.45% of TV viewers, the highest since Jay Leno's finale in 2014.

Fallon shone in the 18-49 demographic, boasting a 23.59% share, the best since the Friends finale in 2004. Airing at a sleepy 1:11 a.m., the episode still drew 2.28 million viewers, Fallon's largest audience since last Thanksgiving.

With guests like LL Cool J and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the night was a slam dunk. Future episodes will continue to ride the NFL wave, with four special Sunday editions lined up after Sunday Night Football games, starting September 21.

The top ten most-watched episodes since September 2024 also included this record-breaking night, showcasing how the NFL can juice up late-night ratings.