Could we see a longer NFL season soon? NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told financial mogul David Rubenstein that adding an 18th game is a “logical step”. Goodell sat down for Bloomberg’s The David Rubenstein Show: Peer to Peer Conversations to discuss the NFL’s future.
Goodell confirmed the speculation around the NFL wanting to add another week of regular season games. The commissioner is dedicated to the league’s 20-game framework, including regular season and preseason games. The league wants to replace the third preseason game with an 18th regular season game.
Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry previously hinted at the inclusion of the extra game, when he proposed delaying the trade deadline by two weeks instead of one week.
The NFL Players Association would have to agree to play an 18th game. The current collective bargaining agreement that allowed for a 17th game runs until 2031. The two sides have plenty of time to negotiate an 18th game. The NFLPA has been vocal against expanding the season over the last few years. The owners will need to give them many concessions to agree to an extra game.
Goodell has been a great steward for the league and the sport. He’s helped grow the league’s global brand while dominating the American TV ratings. Goodell is a shrewd businessman, but he may have his head in the clouds over an 18th game.
