Roger Goodell Unveils Aspirations for an Extended NFL Season to 18 Games

The NFL commissioner aims to boost the frequency of yearly international matches.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has set ambitious targets for the league over the upcoming years.

Goodell shared over the weekend that he’s optimistic about the NFL hosting eight international matchups next season. However, he is also discussing more extensive plans, including the league’s intention to expand to 18 games per season. He envisions implementing this initiative within a five-year timeframe, as reported by Sports Business Journal.

Additionally, he aims to raise the total number of international games to 16 per season, theoretically allowing every one of the 32 teams to participate in an overseas game each year. The NFL hosted five international matches this year, marking the highest count in a single season in the league’s history.

“We’re considering a shift from the 17-and-3 format to potentially 18 regular season games alongside two preseason games,” Goodell stated Thursday at Liberty Media’s investor day. “This would provide us with additional opportunities to expand our global reach.”

This potential expansion follows the league’s adjustment to 17 games per season in 2021, which was the first modification since 1978.

The timeline for these aspirations conveniently aligns with the NFL’s broadcasting agreements, which are set to end after the 2029 season. Should the league’s schedule undergo expansion in five years, new broadcasting agreements would likely be necessary.

Nonetheless, the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NFL and NFLPA remains in effect until after the 2030 season, meaning Goodell will need to negotiate during the upcoming bargaining phase.

If these modifications take place in the next few years, the NFL schedule will look entirely different from what it is today.