An 18-game NFL season is closer than you think after Roger Goodell’s latest comments

In 1978, the NFL decided to increase the number of games in the regular season. They extended the season that year, going from a 14-game regular season to a 16-game regular season. It remained the norm for decades. That’s until 2021 when NFL owners vote extending the regular season to 17 gamesdropping one of four preseason games. Now, however, Roger Goodell noticed the probability of the NFL expanding to an 18-game regular season, shortening the preseason even more, according to Ari Meirov on X.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told @bloomberg that adding an 18th regular season game with one preseason game suspended is the next ‘logical’ step, but it would require an agreement with the players,” Meirow wrote. ” “We went to 16 and four, and now 17 and three. So 18 and two is a logical step.’ “

When you look at the structure of an NFL season from start to finish, this is what it currently looks like:

• Three preseason games
• 17 regular season games
• (up to) four playoff games

The pre-season has been a hotly debated topic for quite some time now. While some find it useful, others consider it a waste of time.

However, with an 18-game season, there will surely be changes in the CBA league or collective bargaining agreement. This is the labor contract that the NFL (Roger Goodell and 32 NFL team owners) and the NFLPA (NFL Players Association) negotiate to find the most equitable division of labor.

A CBA can include topics such as: player contracts, health care, pensions, salary cap, etc. While those conversations appear to have begun — at least a little — Goodell made it clear that an 18-game regular season is the next logical step.

Most of this change would probably be earnings limitsas well as even bigger contracts for the league’s best players.

There was a time when people lost their minds over Patrick Mahomes earning a 10-year extension worth $450 million. However, when looking at other quarterbacks around the league, Mahomes is tied for the 12th highest paid quarterback on the year.

At the top of the list is Dak Prescott, he earns $60 million per seasonwhile Mahomes only makes $45 million a year. I know, horror only 450 million dollars!

But, with Goodell is already talking about an 18-game regular seasonthere is no reason to believe that it is not already underway.