The Push for a Longer Season
While an expansion to an 18-game NFL regular season is not a guaranteed certainty, it is becoming increasingly clear that the league is determined to pursue it. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has repeatedly signaled his support for extending the schedule, coupled with a goal of hosting 16 international games per year.
Strategic Goals and International Growth
In a recent profile by Vanity Fair, Kraft articulated his vision for the future of the league's labor agreement. He emphasized that adjusting the schedule would serve as a catalyst for global growth.
«In our new labor agreement, I hope we go to 18 games and two preseason games, and then if we do that, it would allow us to hopefully go to 16 international games, so we would have every team every year play an international game, which would be built mainly through a streaming audience,» Kraft stated.
Negotiation Hurdles and Revenue Potential
The timeline for these changes remains tethered to the next collective bargaining agreement. With the current deal running until March 2031, there is speculation that the league might seek an earlier resolution to expedite these changes, potentially even risking a lockout to secure player approval.
From a financial perspective, players may find incentives to move forward with an 18-game structure sooner rather than later. The additional game, combined with a potential second bye week that would stretch the season over 20 weeks, would significantly increase total broadcast inventory and league-wide revenue.
Timeline Uncertainty
The league has not yet finalized a specific date for Super Bowl LXII in Atlanta, a detail that leaves the possibility of an 18-game season by 2027 on the table. If the NFL had abandoned the idea of an early expansion, the Atlanta Super Bowl would likely have been officially confirmed for February 13, 2028—the standard date under the current 17-game format. The fact that the date remains fluid suggests the league is still actively exploring ways to make the transition happen sooner.