<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-06-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000101830</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SPRINT NEXTEL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>S</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001014813</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WEST BARRY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2001 EDMUND HALLEY DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RESTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20191</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Technology Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-06-12</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>37123</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>85412</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These share units are issued under Sprint Nextel's 1997 Long-Term Incentive Program.  Each unit represents the right to receive one share of the underlying security at a date in the future.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These restricted stock units vest 100% on February 7, 2009 but are subject to forfeiture in the event financial objectives relating to wireless subscription additions, adjusted OIBDA (operating income plus depreciation, amortization and special items) and post-paid wireless subscriber retention are not achieved during 2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 72,737 share units or deferred shares, which are subject to forfeiture until they vest.  Effective at the time of the spin-off by Sprint Nextel of its local communications business, outstanding deferred shares representing Sprint Nextel stock granted under the Nextel Incentive Equity Plan were adjusted by multiplying the number of shares by 1.0955.  This number was obtained by dividing the &quot;regular way&quot; closing price of Sprint Nextel common stock on the NYSE on May 17, 2006 by the &quot;ex-dividend&quot; closing price of Sprint Nextel common stock on the NYSE on May 17, 2006.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Richard Montfort
    Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-06-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
