Balldontlie MCP vs NFL MCP
A side-by-side look at the Balldontlie MCP and NFL MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
N
NFL MCPSportsNFL analytics tools for AI agents: stats, fantasy, injuries, schedules, and advanced analysis.37FairAuth: not declaredVerdict: choose Balldontlie MCP for sports work as a local process; choose NFL MCP for sports. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Balldontlie MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Sports domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You have the keys it needs:
BALLDONTLIE_API_KEY. - You want tools like
league, firstName, lastName.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | N NFL MCP | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Sports | Sports |
| Quality signal | 56/100 · Good | 37/100 · Fair |
| Install command | Confirmed | Not confirmed yet |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | — |
| Auth | API key required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | BALLDONTLIE_API_KEY | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 26 | — |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 7 | Not listed |
| Full listing | View Balldontlie MCP | View NFL MCP |
Tools & capabilities
Balldontlie MCP tools 7
leaguefirstNamelastNamecursordatesteamIdsgameId
NFL MCP tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
Balldontlie MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"mikechao-balldontlie-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"balldontlie-mcp"
],
"env": {
"BALLDONTLIE_API_KEY": "YOUR_BALLDONTLIE_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
NFL MCP
No confirmed install command for NFL MCP yet — follow the setup steps linked from its listing page rather than a guessed package name.
Frequently asked questions
Balldontlie MCP is categorized under Sports and uses a local stdio subprocess. NFL MCP belongs to Sports and uses an install path we have not confirmed yet. Pick Balldontlie MCP for sports work and NFL MCP for sports.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client. NFL MCP has no confirmed install command yet — follow its own setup instructions.
Balldontlie MCP is listed as free. Auth: api key required. NFL MCP has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add mikechao-balldontlie-mcp and nfl-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Balldontlie MCP has a quality signal of 56/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 26 GitHub stars. NFL MCP has 37/100 (Fair) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.