In the world of American football, discussions are swirling around the possibility of an 18-game regular season schedule. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association executive director Lloyd Howell have reportedly been in talks about this potential change, as sources have revealed to CBS Sports.
While it’s important to note that these discussions have not yet reached the negotiation phase, it is clear that both sides are preparing for that eventuality. The 18th game would need to be collectively bargained, and with the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) not expiring until 2030, there is still some time to work out the details.
In order to add an extra game to the regular season, the NFL and the players’ union will need to come to an agreement on various concessions. These could include additional bye weeks, more natural-grass playing surfaces, as well as addressing other health and safety concerns that may arise from an extended season.
One possible scenario being considered is moving Week 1 of the season up to Labor Day weekend, adding a second bye week, and scheduling the Super Bowl for the Sunday before Presidents Day. This would effectively turn the day after the Super Bowl into a national holiday, giving football fans another reason to celebrate.
However, there are concerns about the potential impact on college football, which currently dominates the sports landscape on Labor Day weekend. “They could do to college football what they’ve done to the NBA,” one source ominously remarked, pointing to the NFL’s ability to draw viewers away from other sports.
The idea of expanding to an 18-game season is not new, as the NFL has been exploring this possibility for over a decade. The current CBA allowed for the option to expand to 17 games, which the league exercised ahead of the 2021 season. Adding an additional game would provide the NFL with more inventory to support its international expansion efforts, potentially increasing the number of international games from 10 to 16 per year.
As discussions progress, both sides will be looking to ensure that their respective interests are protected. The players’ union will be pushing for concessions that address their concerns about player health and safety, while the league will be focused on maximizing the potential benefits of an expanded schedule.
With no set timeline for when an agreement on an 18-game season might be reached, the fact-gathering process is currently underway. As the NFL continues to explore this possibility, football fans around the world will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of these negotiations.