18-game NFL – Patriots owner Robert Kraft says he hopes the next NFL labor deal expands the regular season to 18 games and boosts international matchups.
An 18-game NFL season is no longer just a talking point for owners, with Patriots chairman Robert Kraft publicly stressing he wants the next labor agreement to make it happen.
Kraft’s comments, relayed through Misryoum, center on a proposed expansion to 18 regular-season games alongside two preseason contests.. The broader idea. as Kraft frames it. is to create an annual structure that can support international games every year. with non-U.S.. matchups built around a global, streaming-friendly viewing model.
Misryoum insight: This kind of scheduling overhaul matters because it reshapes the league’s product from week to week. More games can mean different roster management, different injury-risk calculations, and a bigger calendar for broadcast planning.
The timing becomes the real challenge.. The current NFL labor agreement runs until March 2031. which means any change likely depends on when the league and players reach a new deal.. If the parties do not move quickly. the prospect of labor disruption becomes a major factor in how and when the schedule could evolve.
From a business perspective, Kraft’s message aligns with the league’s incentive to grow revenue.. Under an 18-game framework. each added regular-season contest can bring additional financial upside. and a more compressed or extended overall calendar could also influence how many media windows the NFL can sell.
Misryoum insight: For fans, an 18-game proposal is often framed as “more football.” For teams and players, it is also a major shift in workload planning, which is why negotiations tend to revolve around more than just counting games.
While the NFL has not closed the door on an earlier rollout. the path depends on broader league planning as well.. Until the league confirms the date for Super Bowl LXII in Atlanta. schedules for the late-2020s remain adjustable. leaving room for the concept to be implemented before the current format fully locks in.
In the meantime, Misryoum will keep an eye on how the league approaches negotiations and whether the 18-game push moves from hope to a concrete proposal with a timeline players and teams can work from.