18-game regular season? Mixed reaction by NFL owners, coaches

PHOENIX — The possibility of the NFL moving to an 18-game regular season may still be years away, but there was no shortage of conversation about the idea at this week’s NFL annual league meeting.

with recent establishment NFL Players Association appoints a new executive director jessie tretterand with continuous expansion In the league’s international slate of games, momentum is gradually moving toward two pre-season games leading to an additional regular-season competition.

“If we could make it work, I think it would be great,” indianapolis colts owner and CEO Carly Irsay-Gordon said Sunday. “The preseason is, as far as the fan product is concerned, the commissioner has openly said it’s not the best product we have. I will say, it’s for the development of our team. I don’t think we can get rid of it.

“But I think as long as the players want it – which I think they will, because it will mean more revenue – I think [it’s] Ultimately a better product. I think that’s fair. It’s something we need to work on.”

That doesn’t mean an 18-game regular season will be anywhere close to a guarantee for the NFL. The NFLPA has already taken a public stance in opposition to expanding the regular season. But the union took a similar position before the league shifted to the current 17-game season in 2021. That didn’t stop players from approving a new collective bargaining agreement in a close vote in 2021, which included an increase in games but also more revenue for players.

Any extension to the league’s season would require negotiations with the union. And doing so in the near term would mean reopening CBA talks before the scheduled expiration of the current deal after the 2030 season. It is unclear how likely either side would be to agree on that particular detail.

Potential negotiations would likely require concessions from the owners. Irsay-Gordon acknowledged this when he suggested that a shorter offseason program could be a good incentive for players.

“We have to start thinking about better ways to do things,” he said.

However, there appears to be growing support among league owners and officials for expanding the season to 18 games.

“I like this for the long-term growth and development of the league,” new England Patriots “To keep our league healthy and increase revenue. I think preseason games have never been the same,” owner Robert Kraft said Monday.

Kraft acknowledged the complexities of such an effort, saying: “With the change in 18 games, and having real content, and being mindful of player safety, I personally would like us to have a second bye week.”

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49ers’ Shanahan not happy with international schedule

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan spoke to reporters about his displeasure over the week one matchup in Australia.

But some league owners and coaches slammed the idea of ​​18 games. cleveland browns For example, owner Jimmy Haslam said the talks were “a little premature.” New Orleans Saints “If you do a preseason and you get to the Super Bowl, it’ll be whatever, 23, 24 games. So, there’s a lot of games on the calendar,” coach Kellen Moore said.

But the push for 18 games comes despite concerns that it is likely to be packed with the league’s effort to increase the number of games played internationally, another topic that has taken center stage at this week’s meetings at the Arizona Biltmore.

The NFL will play a record nine international games in 2026, including the first regular season games in Australia and France. This is a harbinger of what the league really wants.

“This will also help us grow the game internationally,” Craft said. “Each team in the league will play one game away. I think it will be more exciting for fans to play an extra game instead of the way our preseason games are stacked up.”

Having 18 sports is seen by many as a means of increasing the number of international competitions.

“Increasing the number of international games, this is something we very much support,” kansas city chiefs said owner Clark Hunt. “With a dynamic schedule, having 18 games will facilitate that.”

The combination of 18 regular season games and an expanded international slate could be a boon for NFL revenues. The league could potentially charge broadcast partners additional rights fees for additional games. And it can continue to build on the major revenue source provided by international sports.

“It’s been proven in terms of viewership,” he said. minnesota vikings Owner and chairman Mark Wilf, whose team embraced international expansion last season by playing consecutive games in Dublin and London. “Engagement has increased dramatically in every country we’ve been to.”

The debate is still in its infancy, and many hurdles remain before regular season expansion can become a reality.

But it is clear that talks are already underway between top league officials.

ESPN’s Kalin Kahler, Kevin Seifert, Nate Taylor, Mike Reiss and Daniel Oyefusi contributed to this report.