NFLPA’s JC Tretter declines early CBA talks as NFL pushes 18 games

NFL Players Association executive director JC Tretter said this week the union is not prepared to begin early negotiations with the NFL on the next collective bargaining agreement (CBA). His comments indicate that any near-term move toward an 18-game regular season would still have to go through formal bargaining with the union.

Tretter said the league wants to expand the schedule to 18 regular-season games and increase international play to 16 games per year. He added that the NFL is also seeking economic changes, including a lower player share of revenue and shifting more league operating costs onto players.

In remarks shared in a recent interview, Tretter argued that the package would raise travel demands and workload while reducing players’ financial upside. He said player health and overall workload would be central issues whenever negotiations eventually begin.

The NFL has publicly discussed an 18-game season as a longer-term goal. Under the current labor framework, expanding the schedule or changing core economic terms would require an agreement with the union.

NFL proposals Tretter says are on the table

Tretter grouped the league’s priorities as a combined set of scheduling and business changes. Alongside the proposed move to 18 regular-season games, he pointed to a larger international slate that would increase time on the road and time away from club facilities.

On the financial side, Tretter said the NFL wants to reduce the players’ revenue share and have players cover a greater portion of the costs of operating the league. He framed that approach as shifting risk and expense toward players.

Because the issues touch both player safety and fundamental compensation terms, Tretter’s refusal to enter early talks suggests the NFL’s desired structural changes are unlikely to be accelerated through informal discussions.

What the stance signals for labor timelines

Tretter’s position indicates the NFLPA intends to avoid advancing negotiations on proposals it views as unfavorable. That approach could keep uncertainty in place over when, and under what conditions, an 18-game season and broader economic adjustments will be formally considered.

Any momentum toward a new agreement would likely depend on whether the league narrows the scope of its proposals or whether both sides wait to engage closer to the next bargaining window.

For now, the current schedule and revenue framework remains in place, with any expansion or revenue-share changes tied to future CBA negotiations rather than immediate talks.