A third year after the NFL added a 17th game, for an 18th grow

It’s unclear when the NFL will add an 18th game, but the discussion about expanding the regular season seems to be over. Commissioner Roger Goodell has openly discussed it, union chief Lloyd Howell recently told the Washington Post that the NFLPA is open to doing it before the current collective bargaining agreement expires after the 2030 season, and players seem resigned to it regardless of how they feel.

“I feel like we really ain’t got no choice, to be honest,” said Seattle Seahawks veteran receiver Tyler Lockett, who would rather add a bye week than a game to provide TV networks additional broadcast windows without stressing the players. That seems fairer, but we know it won’t happen. So, you just have to go with it and play.” For years, the NFL has wanted more games and more lucrative national television windows. The league expanded the regular season from 14 to 16 in 1978 and maintained it for decades.

Goodell and the owners added a 17th game to the last CBA discussions before the 2021 season, and Goodell said in the spring that 18 games are a priority as long as they don’t affect player safety. “If you asked me that 10 years ago, I would have been excited. Not excited anymore, but it is what it is, Raiders receiver Davante Adams said. “That’s what’s special about football and why I wanted to play it over basketball—it’s a different feeling knowing you only have so many opportunities.”

More season games mean more broadcast windows. The Super Bowl might be moved to Presidents Day weekend with a government holiday the day following. That would require either not adding a second bye week, which most players thought was needed to play an extra game, or moving the season to Labour Day weekend, which the NFL has avoided since 2000. Moving the Super Bowl to a lengthy holiday weekend may appeal to fans who don’t have to work the next day, but it could make an NFL season a seven-month marathon from training camp to the final game.

“I feel like a couple people are going to feel like (Nikola) Jokic, ready to go home,” Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs said, alluding to the 2023 NBA champion who complained about the season’s length. It takes what it takes to produce champions and mentally strong people. So it’s irrelevant. February and Presidents Day overlap for me. Everything is the same since I’m here. I understand it’s entertainment.” The NFL receives about $113 billion over 11 years for its broadcast rights as the most valuable television property. In 2023, 93 of the 100 most-watched TV shows were NFL games, up from 61 in 2018. Players’ bodies pay for that extra revenue.

“The fans, and rightfully so, shouldn’t know all the injuries we go through, but they don’t know what it takes to play on Sundays,” said Colts centre Ryan Kelly, the team’s spokesperson. I think there are too many games. One preseason game was eliminated when the NFL added a 17th game in 2021. Goodell indicated it would happen again if the league went to 18 games. However, that worries coaches about younger players having fewer chances to prove themselves or improve and worries veterans, many of whom play few or no snaps in preseason games.

“They talk about taking a preseason game out, which to me doesn’t really matter because I play in like one preseason game,” said 49ers All-Pro tight end George Kittle, who has 37 preseason snaps in six years. The majority of vets do. So that doesn’t help anyone.” A longer bye week, a modification to the offseason schedule, or, most crucially, a higher income share would be more important to players. When the season was expanded to 17 games, players’ shared profits rose from 47% to 48.5% under the last CBA.

An 18th game would boost revenue and maybe player payouts. When the season expanded to 17 games in 2021, some players received an extra game check to boost their pay. ESPN surveyed players in the offseason and found 46% supported expanding the season to 18 games with conditions and 8% without. Another check, right? When questioned about an 18th game, 49ers defensive end Leonard Floyd responded. Play more, check more.”