NFL Owners to Discuss Expanding Regular Season to 18 Games
It looks like the NFL is getting closer to making an 18-game regular season a reality. According to Yahoo Sports insider Charles Robinson, league owners will discuss the possible expansion at their upcoming meetings in Palm Beach, Florida.
This isn’t exactly shocking Commissioner Roger Goodell has been pushing for an 18-game season for a while now. Back in January, he called it “a logical step” and even suggested reducing the preseason from three games to two.
Not everyone is on board, though. NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. has questioned the league’s safety data and made it clear that players aren’t eager to add another game. “No one wants to play an 18th game. No one,” Howell said in February. He also pointed out that 17 games already take a toll on players, with some still dealing with injuries when the next season rolls around.
That said, Howell has softened his stance a bit since then. In July, he admitted an 18-game season is “attractive” and suggested there’s room for negotiation. The current collective bargaining agreement runs through 2030, but if owners and players can agree, the expanded schedule could happen even sooner.
For now, nothing is official, but it’s clear the league is moving in that direction. Stay tuned.
NFL Considering 18-Game Regular Season—What It Means for Players & Fans
