The NFL and the NFL Players Association are not anticipated to start formal talks about extending the regular season to 18 games until at least early 2026. The addition of the 18th game is seen as inevitable, as noted by CBS Sports NFL Insider Jonathan Jones, who reported during the league’s annual meeting in April that Commissioner Roger Goodell said it was “not the focus of our discussions due to the broadening of imagination at the time.”
Last year, NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell mentioned that the Players Association had informal talks regarding the 18-game schedule, but, as reported by Maske, these have yet to turn into formal negotiations and likely won’t change by early next year. Moving forward, Howell explained that they will conduct team-by-team meetings with players to prioritize NFLPA negotiations, with formal talks set to begin after the player representative meeting in March.
The NFL switched from a 16-game to a 17-game schedule in 2021, following the 2020 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which included players receiving a share of revenue and other benefits in exchange for extra games. Muske points out that if formal talks do not start until 2026, expanding from 17 to 18 games might only happen by 2028, although some owners had hoped for the change by 2027. Key concerns around this expansion include player safety and scheduling logistics.
Fan Take: This news is significant for NFL fans as it signals a major shift in the league’s structure and could impact the game’s competitiveness and player health. Expanding the season could mean more football to enjoy but also raises important questions about balancing entertainment with player welfare.
