This Sunday will mark the beginning of the next league meeting. As always, several topics will be discussed, and it would not come as a surprise if increased discussion about an 18-game regular season took place. 
Expanding the season once again has long been a target for the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell. His most recent comments on the matter confirmed a shift to two preseason contests and 18 in the regular season remains the goal, and the matter figures to be a central aspect of negotiations before the current CBA (which runs through the 2030 season) expires. Serious talks have not yet taken place, but that could soon change.
Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reports an expectation exists Goodell and the owners will “make more assertive efforts” to work out an 18-game arrangement this summer. That process is viewed by at least two team executives as being likely to include discussions taking place at the upcoming league meeting. Positive momentum over the coming days would not make an agreement imminent, of course, but it would point further to an expanded schedule being on the horizon.
“Everyone understands consensus-building time is coming for both [the league and NFLPA],” an NFL executive said (via Robinson). “It’s going to take time to get to [negotiations] opening a CBA and rolling up sleeves on whatever gets put onto the table. It might take a year or two, but you really can’t do that without a broader conversation [amongst owners]. I think that starts to get some momentum [this week] in Florida.”
Expanding the regular season from 16 games to 17 was a central element of the 2020 CBA, and even then it was widely assumed a jump to 18 would be in store. Lloyd Howell initially expressed an openness on the part of the Players Association to entertain discussions on the matter – in particular, the concessions which would be required by the NFL to make an agreement feasible. Last month, however, Howell made it clear there is no desire amongst the players to expand the schedule once again.
Robinson adds the issue of revenue distribution between the NFL and NFLPA is likely to be a central one. At present, the players receive 48% of football-related revenue with a maximum of 48.8% possible based on money brought in from the league’s media rights deals. A move to a 50-50 split is believed to be a top union goal, he adds. Other matters such as the inclusion of a second bye week, along with roster and travel concerns are also set to be talking points.
Mark Maske of the Washington Post confirms formal negotiations on this front have not started yet. He adds, however, that talks (beyond the informal ones which have already occurred) are expected to take place soon. Clarity with respect to the owners’ plans on the matter of an 18-game schedule could represent a key first step to an agreement being reached.
They should go to 162 games like baseball
The last 140 games will all be flag football. Did you know that was in the Olympics? Did you? Did you?
Everybody knew this was coming when they pushed for 17 games.
They need to expand the rosters to make this work. You can’t overwork players to that extent.
Absolutely true. I cannot fathom, in any stretch of the imagination, why the topic of roster expansion has yet to follow the rapid increase of games in the schedule. It just defies all logic.
Do you think some kind of in-game limits makes sense too? Maybe like no non-QB player can play in more than x% of snaps or something?
yes lets move to 18 games where everyteam plays 2 games outside of usa. greed greed greed. it was perfectly fine at 16
It’s bad enough players feel the pain and deal with the issues after their career ends from a 16 game schedule.
Jeebus, why not a 52 week schedule?
Also due to be discussed: a 36 game schedule.
Don’t panic about that contract your team signed. The cap is going waaaaaay up in the next few years.
Always keen to overspend the cap, aren’t you?
Always keen to put idiotic words in my mouth, aren’t you?
It should stay at 17 because with an odd number you can’t be .500; you either had a winning or losing record.
tie a game 8-8-1. what they should do is figure out a way where there no ties
If they set the overtime rules and left them alone for at least five years, I could be happy with that.
I don’t see why they don’t just make the playoff version permanent, the way that they did when it was first adopted. People may complain about the length, but it’s better to have good results than a sour taste because the offense controlled league (and kickers that regularly hit from 60 yards) made it too easy to score.
I’d like to see a rule where a team that scores a TD must go for the 2 point conversion if being successful would give them the lead.
That could be fun, in a college style shootout.
Greed is an ugly thing, man.
18 games is 1 less pre season but they need to allow more practice time. Expand rosters.
That would actually be the 2nd preseason game lost as they already have removed one from the schedule. That makes it even harder for the young guys to make the team. Watching them in practice is not the same as live game action.
Joint practices are the only thing that will be close to a simulation. They are going to need to allow more and be less strict.
Aren’t they more focused on banning celebrations? They act like they are curing something banning CD and other celebrations…like they didn’t make money off CeeDee doing that by using on merchandise and commercial.