The NFL regular season was set at 16 games for decades, a sacred number that was as ingrained in the league’s reputation as Lombardi’s name on a trophy. But Roger Goodell’s masterful orchestration of a seismic move to 17 regular-season games in 2021 changed all of that. It made it clear that the league was not merely treading carefully but was charging towards expansion. Fast forward to 2025, and the next chapter in the schedule saga is already unfolding, this time with 18 games on the horizon.
While networks and fans are giddy with anticipation for another week of primetime games, red zone mayhem, and fantasy heartbreaks, the true battlefield isn’t in the end zones but rather in the boardroom and locker room. And the man with the mic? Roger Goodell.
In response to a question concerning the NFL schedule’s future, Commissioner Roger Goodell didn’t mince words. He outlined his plan for an 18-game season during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, calling it the “logical step” in the league’s ongoing development. But, in this instance, reasoning is encased in player health arguments and padded with controversy. “There’s no question, right, that the general public would say I’d rather have a regular season game than a preseason game,” Goodell said. “So I think 18 and 2 makes sense from the quality of the game. The core function for us, though, is can we keep the game safe for our players?”
“There’s no question that the general public would rather have a regular season game than a preseason game..
18 regular season games and 2 preseason games makes sense..
The core function for us is can we keep the game safe for our players” ~ @nflcommish #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/1YepM5wEjQ
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 25, 2025
Goodell contended that because of improved equipment, more intelligent training plans, and safety-first rule modifications, the move from 16 to 17 games did not result in an increase in injuries. The NFLPA, which would have to approve any such extension prior to the next CBA, is particularly concerned about adding yet another game.
But never afraid to ask tough questions, McAfee pressed for information on player welfare and the potential financial gain. “18-game season, okay. Would that add a bye? I don’t know if there’s been a development in the conversation,” McAfee pondered. “If we get another weekend of primetime games… the money that’s going to come in is only just scratching the surface.”
Although Goodell stressed that any expansion must keep the game inside a 20-game total format, he did not commit to an answer about the extra bye. “We used to have 14 and 6, but guys played every preseason game… You were playing 20 games. That was a time with double sessions, bad pads, and worse helmets,” Goodell said, nodding to how far the league has come in modernizing safety protocols.
But even with McAfee’s curiosity and excitement, there was still a noticeable tension. The audience’s quiet roar of jeers clashed with Goodell’s carefully calibrated tone, demonstrating that fans aren’t naively sold on another week of gridiron grind. “We still have to deal with the Players Association,” Goodell acknowledged. “They get a percentage of the pie, and we need to figure out if this is the right step. It might be a longer-term move.”
Roger Goodell drops a meta bombshell, and the NFL world isn’t having it
Just when you thought Goodell’s situation couldn’t be any more embarrassing, he made an announcement right before Draft Night that somehow sparked more snark than joy. He announced the date for the schedule release: Wednesday, May 14 at 8:00 PM ET.
Fans complained on social media when #ScheduleEdging started trending. JJ Watt posted his comments on X, asking, “Was that really just an announcement for the schedule announcement?” In a self-satirizing statement, James Palmer summed up the ridiculousness: “I remembered year after year flying to a team facility in the league to report live on schedule release day. Sources say … these are the dates for football. Back to you.”
The commissioner came under fire from critics for prioritising theatrics over substance, particularly on a night when fans were more interested in facts than drama. Even Roman McPeake couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow in response to the league’s fixation on show: “And here’s my announcement announcing that after seeing the announcement for the announcement of the schedule I will be waiting for the schedule announcement on May 14th.”
So, although Roger Goodell may refer to it as the “logical step,” supporters aren’t exactly applauding. The hype-first, answers-later strategy is beginning to backfire, as evidenced by the Draft booing and the #ScheduleEdging movement on the internet. Yes, the expansion seems imminent; it is more show than substance in the absence of concrete answers about player safety and second byes. The NFL wants growth—fans just want the game done right.
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