NFL chief responds to schedule expansion plans – Sports News
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell delivered his annual State of the NFL tackle simply earlier than Super Bowl 2026 on Monday and spent a lot of his time clarifying info fairly than selling the upcoming championship recreation.
Super Bowl LX will showcase the Seattle Seahawks towards the New England Patriots on Feb. 9 at Levi’s Stadium. Goodell made clear that the NFL’s potential transition to an 18-game season shouldn’t be on the instant horizon, with discussions with the NFL Players Association unlikely earlier than 2026 given the present collective bargaining settlement extends by 2030.
“It is not a given that we’ll do that,” Goodell stated. “It is not something that we assume will happen.”
The commissioner identified that the present Collective Bargaining Agreement nonetheless has vital time left, which diminishes the strain for instant structural modifications.
Goodell indicated league officers are awaiting the union’s management state of affairs to settle earlier than getting into into any significant negotiations. After that course of concludes, each events will then assess whether or not the 18-game idea deserves additional consideration.
The commissioner referenced the league’s earlier shift from 16 to 17 regular-season video games as a blueprint for how such discussions sometimes progress. That transition was accomplished as half of the 2020 CBA, accompanied by intensive negotiations with gamers concerning security protocols, compensation and roster concerns.
Goodell acknowledged that participant security continues to be a paramount concern and that any talks about schedule expansion would require implementing extra protecting measures for athletes.
He additionally highlighted operational challenges, equivalent to whether or not franchises would get two bye weeks, potential adjustments to roster dimensions, and what aggressive modifications could be required.
“There are a number of issues that need to be discussed with the players,” Goodell acknowledged. Though an prolonged season may increase income streams, the commissioner emphasised that implementation would not proceed with out participant approval.
Goodell has beforehand indicated his desire for changing an NFL preseason contest with a regular-season matchup. A 2024 ballot revealed that simply 46 p.c of league gamers supported the 18-game format.
Multiple NFL stars have voiced opposition to the schedule extension, together with Buffalo Bills standout offensive lineman Dion Dawkins.
“When it comes to those 18 games, it just shortens that time for when the offseason comes, and you can really dive into who you really are.”
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