The NFL’s push for an 18-game regular season is not yet a done deal—but it’s moving closer to reality. Patriots owner Robert Kraft has repeatedly advocated for the expansion, emphasizing its potential to transform the league’s global reach and financial growth.
In a new Vanity Fair profile of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Kraft outlined his vision for the future of the league, including a 17-game regular season with two preseason games, followed by an international schedule featuring 16 games per year. Under this plan, every NFL team would play at least one game abroad annually, primarily streamed to a global audience.
“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, which would be built mainly through a streaming audience,” Kraft told Vanity Fair’s Lachlan Cartwright.
When Could the 18-Game Season Happen?
The timeline hinges on the next collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which is currently set to expire in March 2031. If negotiations stall, the NFL could face a lockout until players agree to the season expansion—a scenario that may pressure the players’ union to accept the change sooner rather than later. Kraft argued that an 18-game season would generate significantly more revenue, particularly if a second bye week extends the regular season to 20 weeks and adds 10 additional broadcast windows.
Super Bowl LXII in Atlanta: A Key Factor
Until the NFL finalizes the date for Super Bowl LXII in Atlanta, the league retains flexibility to implement an 18-game season by 2027. The current 17-game format with one bye week ties the Super Bowl to February 13, 2028. However, if the NFL abandons this structure, the Atlanta Super Bowl could be rescheduled, clearing the path for an earlier expansion.
The league has not yet conceded defeat on the 18-game push. While challenges remain, the NFL continues to explore ways to grow its international presence and maximize revenue through an expanded schedule.
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