NFLPA won’t discuss 18-game season until at least 2026
TOI World Desk | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Jul 02, 2025, 19:10 IST
The National Football League wants to extend the regular season. They want to add one more game. But the NFL Players Association is hesitant. The players are concerned about their health. They are also concerned about increased international travel. Formal negotiations are not expected until 2026. The current agreement runs through 2030. Both sides have time to discuss the changes.
The National Football League (NFL) is pushing hard to expand the regular season from 17 to 18 games, but the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) isn’t ready to talk just yet. According to recent reports, the players' union is unlikely to enter formal negotiations over the proposal or any related labor issues until sometime in 2026.
Commissioner Roger Goodell and several NFL team owners are firmly in favor of the move. They believe an 18-game season could significantly increase the value of the league’s television and streaming rights, which are already among the most lucrative in sports. Additionally, the league wants to grow its international footprint by hosting more games abroad—possibly as many as 16 per season.
However, the NFLPA has been cautious about jumping into talks. The main concern among players is health and safety. More games mean more wear and tear on their bodies, and increased international travel could make things even tougher. While there’s little doubt that the 18-game schedule is coming eventually, the players' union is in no rush to make it happen.
Right now, no formal discussions are taking place between the NFL and the union. NFLPA Executive Director Lloyd Howell has reportedly made it clear that the union will take its time in setting its negotiating priorities. In fact, the union’s annual representatives meeting in early 2026 is when more serious internal planning is expected to begin.
Some NFL team owners have floated the idea of implementing the 18-game schedule as early as 2027. But since formal talks won’t begin until at least 2026, that timeline may prove optimistic.
It’s important to note that the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the NFL and its players runs through the 2030 season. That gives both sides several years to work out the details and ensure that any changes—especially ones as significant as adding another regular-season game—are carefully considered and agreed upon.
In the meantime, the league will likely continue exploring its options to grow the game globally while the players focus on protecting their long-term health and ensuring fair compensation.
Commissioner Roger Goodell and several NFL team owners are firmly in favor of the move. They believe an 18-game season could significantly increase the value of the league’s television and streaming rights, which are already among the most lucrative in sports. Additionally, the league wants to grow its international footprint by hosting more games abroad—possibly as many as 16 per season.
However, the NFLPA has been cautious about jumping into talks. The main concern among players is health and safety. More games mean more wear and tear on their bodies, and increased international travel could make things even tougher. While there’s little doubt that the 18-game schedule is coming eventually, the players' union is in no rush to make it happen.
Right now, no formal discussions are taking place between the NFL and the union. NFLPA Executive Director Lloyd Howell has reportedly made it clear that the union will take its time in setting its negotiating priorities. In fact, the union’s annual representatives meeting in early 2026 is when more serious internal planning is expected to begin.
Some NFL team owners have floated the idea of implementing the 18-game schedule as early as 2027. But since formal talks won’t begin until at least 2026, that timeline may prove optimistic.
It’s important to note that the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the NFL and its players runs through the 2030 season. That gives both sides several years to work out the details and ensure that any changes—especially ones as significant as adding another regular-season game—are carefully considered and agreed upon.
In the meantime, the league will likely continue exploring its options to grow the game globally while the players focus on protecting their long-term health and ensuring fair compensation.