The NFL’s push to expand the regular season to 18 games is gaining momentum, with league owners and officials actively discussing the change. Patriots owner Robert Kraft has repeatedly voiced support for a longer schedule and a greater number of international games. In a recent Vanity Fair profile of Commissioner Roger Goodell, Kraft said he hopes the next collective bargaining agreement (CBA) will allow the league to move to an 18‑game season, reduce the preseason to two games, and schedule 16 international contests each year, primarily broadcast to a streaming audience.
Kraft told Vanity Fair reporter Lachlan Cartwright, “In our new labor agreement, I hope we go to 18 games and two preseason games, and then if we do that, it would allow us to hopefully go to 16 international games, so we would have every team every year play an international game.”
The timeline for a new CBA is uncertain. The current agreement runs until March 2031. If negotiations stall, the NFL could lock out players to force a settlement that includes the season expansion. From a financial perspective, adding an 18th regular‑season game would increase revenue for both the league and its broadcast partners, especially if a second bye week extends the season to 20 weeks and creates ten additional broadcast windows.
The league’s schedule for Super Bowl LXII in Atlanta remains unconfirmed. Should the NFL adopt an 18‑game format, the championship could be moved to February 13 2028, the earliest date that fits the current 17‑game structure with one bye. However, the league has not ruled out an earlier implementation, and some analysts suggest an 18‑game season could be in place by the 2027 season if negotiations conclude promptly.
The discussion reflects the NFL’s broader strategy to expand its global footprint and capitalize on streaming revenue. As the CBA negotiation deadline approaches, stakeholders will watch closely for any agreement that incorporates the proposed schedule changes and the expanded international slate. The outcome will shape the league’s domestic calendar and its international growth trajectory.
