Ever since the NFL moved from a 16- to 17-game schedule back in 2021, many have felt it’s inevitable that an 18-game schedule will eventually happen.
The owners certainly wouldn’t complain. They get an extra game of ticket, concession, and merchandise sales, plus another game they can generate ad revenue and sponsorship money from, and another game to profit off of with the league’s television contracts.
But the players, on the other hand, don’t seem to be as thrilled with the proposition.
And why would they? They’re adding another game of punishment for their bodies, more miles traveled and hours spent away from their families — and they won’t even get paid more for their efforts.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has hinted to adding another regular-season game for a while now, and that change may not be too far off.
Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports recently dropped a pretty significant update on when NFL fans can expect to see the league expand its regular-season schedule.
“There is little question that the next collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and its players will include an 18th regular season game,” Jones wrote. “That change is at least two years away — 2028 at the absolute earliest, 2031 at the latest — and it will come with considerable back and forth between the sides.
“The league will rid itself of one of three preseason games. A second bye week will be non-negotiable from the player perspective. The financial windfall, which is well north of an extra billion dollars in revenue, is obvious, but how the pie is split will be at the center of the discussion.”
Adding another regular-season game doesn’t come with just drawbacks.
It would also mean adding a second bye week, the elimination of one meaningless preseason game (and the risk of players getting injured before the season starts), and it ensures teams keep playing their best players later in the season instead of resting starters with playoff implications on the line.
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