NFL Eyes 18-Game Season in Next Labor Deal

The NFL is exploring the possibility of expanding the regular season to 18 games, an idea that New England Patriots owner Robert Krasources has publicly supported. Any change would depend on the next collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiated between the league and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA).

Krasources has also floated an increase to 16 international games per year, a format that would effectively have every team play one game outside the United States annually. He has suggested international matchups could be driven largely by streaming audiences.

Under one potential model, an 18-game schedule would be paired with two preseason games and a second bye week. That structure could extend the regular season to 20 weeks and create additional broadcast windows, increasing overall revenue opportunities.

The current CBA runs through March 2031, and the league’s push for an 18th regular-season game is expected to be a major topic in future negotiations. While no timeline has been confirmed, the NFL has not ruled out the possibility of implementing an 18-game format by 2027, with scheduling details such as the date of Super Bowl LXII in Atlanta still not finalized.