NFL owners eye 18-game schedule and it's inevitable: But at what cost?

The inevitable expansion of the NFL regular season to 18 games is no longer a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when.’ While official negotiations remain on the horizon, history suggests that financial incentives will ultimately dictate the league’s direction. The financial windfall tied to an additional game—through expanded television contracts, higher ticket sales, and increased advertising revenue—makes it an almost foregone conclusion. However, while team owners and networks might celebrate the extra revenue, the question remains: What does this mean for the players?

Many within the league, especially former players turned coaches, recognize the toll that an additional game will take on athletes. Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, who played as an NFL linebacker for a decade, didn’t mince words when sharing his perspective.

“From playing in the league, and I played 16 [games], it was a long season,” Ryans noted. “So to play 17 is long, 18 is just adding more games. It’s definitely harder on the players. You think about the guys and if you see what guys go through on a day-to-day basis, week-to-week basis just to get ready for football games, adding another game is definitely going to be hard on the players. It’s not my decision to make, but just my perspective and what these guys have to go through and what they put their bodies through, it’ll be really tough to ask the guys to go do another one.”
The NFLPA will need to negotiate terms that help mitigate this physical burden. While two bye weeks have been floated as a possible compromise, it remains to be seen whether that will be enough to address concerns surrounding player health and safety.

Despite valid concerns from players and coaches, the NFL’s decision-making process has historically leaned toward financial growth. An 18-game schedule will open the door to lucrative television deals involving CBS, Fox, Amazon, and ESPN. Additional standalone Saturday games, especially after the college football season concludes, will further boost revenue streams.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid acknowledged the inevitability of the change while pointing out the challenges players will face.
“The challenge is the health part of it. You know, the guys staying healthy,” Reid stated. “However, they’ll work something out. I’m sure they’re going to give the guys a little break in there somewhere, maybe two bye weeks, who knows? We’ll be coaching well into the New Year.”
While the league seems set on pushing the expansion forward, adjustments will need to be made to accommodate player recovery time. The reduction of the preseason from four to three games in 2021 provided a glimpse into the NFL’s strategy. A further decrease to just two preseason games is expected once the 18-game season is introduced, shifting the focus to training camps and joint practices.

With only two preseason games, younger players may find it more difficult to showcase their talents and secure roster spots. However, many coaches have placed increasing importance on joint practices, which allow teams to simulate competitive game situations without the risks of a full-contact preseason matchup.
“I think you get a lot in training camp regardless with the practices, depending on how long training camp is going to be with two preseason games,” said Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen. “I think you can still get a lot there. Whatever happens with that, obviously, we’ll roll from there. Whether it’s 18 [games] or stays at 17, I think all the coaches will have to adapt and adjust to it.”

Yet, some believe that reducing preseason action could hinder the development of younger players.
“Preseason and training camp is about really building your team,” Ryans said. “Training camp is great for a lot of young guys to develop. We need as much training camp and getting those guys in actual games. I think it helps our young guys a lot. The veterans, you know those guys have done it. So not so much for the veteran players, we get that done in our joint practices. But for our younger players, they really need the preseason to help improve their game.”

The transition to a 17-game season was widely viewed as a stepping stone toward an even larger expansion. The league’s long-standing interest in extending the schedule suggests that the 18-game format is all but inevitable. With the NFLPA likely to negotiate for increased benefits, whether through additional rest periods, expanded rosters, or higher pay, the league will eventually reach a compromise.
“Whatever they throw at us, we’ll work it,” Reid said. “I’ve been around long enough to where I’ve seen that happen. If they throw it our direction we’ll figure it out and go from there.”
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For now, the NFL and the players’ union remain in a balancing act—one that pits financial opportunity against player well-being. The ultimate resolution will likely shape the league’s future for decades to come.