The long-rumored push to expand the NFL season from 17 to 18 games has been dealt a major setback. On July 2, 2025, the NFL Players Association announced that formal talks over any season-length changes will not begin until spring 2026, delaying any chance of an expanded schedule by at least two more years.
This move, labeled by experts as the NFLPA 18-game delay 2026, signals growing resistance from players and reshapes the league’s strategy around revenue, health, and global expansion.
The root of the NFLPA 18-game delay 2026
The NFLPA 18-game delay 2026 stems from a union-wide sentiment that the current 17-game schedule already stretches physical limits.
Executive Director Lloyd Howell has emphasized that player feedback—not league pressure—will guide any discussions moving forward.
“No one wants to play an 18th game. Seventeen is already too long,” Howell said in an interview with American Football International.
His stance is backed by player surveys indicating near-unanimous opposition to expanding the season without significant structural changes, including roster increases and health protections.
NFL owners frustrated, Goodell defends safety progress
Commissioner Roger Goodell responded by pointing to the NFL’s ongoing safety initiatives. “Our safety progress supports expansion,” he told NBC Sports.
Behind the scenes, owners like Jerry Jones have expressed frustration over the NFLPA 18-game delay 2026, which threatens to derail key revenue and broadcast growth strategies.
Sources inside the league say the NFL had hoped to implement the 18-game schedule as early as 2027, in tandem with expanded international games and new TV contracts.
Key negotiation facts and timeline
- Current CBA: Runs through 2030; any changes to schedule length require mutual agreement (ESPN)
- Union stance: No formal talks before spring 2026
- Health stats: 1,964 injuries reported during the 2024 season (CBS Sports)
- Fan sentiment: Strong divide between excitement and concern
- Media impact: Networks expected revenue increases from more games (Sports Business Journal)
- Historical precedent: The 17-game format began in 2021, the first change since 1978 (BVM Sports)
Strategic delay or smart labor positioning?
The NFLPA 18-game delay 2026 has been called a tactical move by analysts such as Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, who noted, “The reason for the delay isn’t clear, but it’s strategic.”
The delay aligns with the union’s broader labor agenda, which includes fighting for guaranteed money, improved playing surfaces, and a second bye week.
Bleacher Report reported that over 90% of surveyed players favor more rest weeks over increased pay, showing that the labor force values longevity over immediate expansion.
Fans and players respond to the NFLPA 18-game delay 2026
Reactions from fans and players are mixed. On social media platform X, one user wrote, “Players deserve a say, 18 games is too much” (@NFLFan22), while another said, “More games, more excitement” (@FootballFeverX).
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has added his voice to the discussion, suggesting, “A second bye week makes sense with 18 games” (ESPN). The union’s careful approach via team meetings this fall will likely shape their spring 2026 position.
Risks if talks drag beyond 202
Delaying talks also introduces risk. If the NFLPA 18-game delay 2026 pushes negotiations past 2026, it may collide with the 2029 media rights opt-out clause, creating tension between the league and its broadcast partners.
Additionally, General Counsel Tom DePaso is retiring, leaving Howell to appoint a new legal architect of the NFLPA’s bargaining team (Washington Post). Any leadership gaps could further slow the process.
League-wide impact and global ambitions stall
The NFL has ambitions to stage 16 international games per season, which hinge on expanding the regular season. The NFLPA 18-game delay 2026 could jeopardize these plans.
Teams like the Cowboys, Patriots, and Chiefs have marketing operations in Mexico, Germany, and the UK, all tied to expansion metrics.
According to The Economic Times, Goodell’s push into Asia and Europe will require either more games or restructuring the current schedule.
Conclusion
The NFLPA 18-game delay 2026 is more than a scheduling issue—it’s a battle over the league’s future direction.
Will the NFL prioritize short-term revenue or align with long-term player health and safety? Howell’s message is clear: the union won’t rush into negotiations without assurances.
Whether the league will offer those concessions remains uncertain. But what is clear is that the delay has shifted the balance of power—at least for now—toward the players.
Call to Action:
What do you think of the NFLPA 18-game delay 2026? Should the league wait, or push forward now? Share your views in the comments below or join the poll on our homepage.
𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧: The NFLPA doesn’t plan to negotiate on a potential 18-game season until next year, per @MarkMaske pic.twitter.com/sO2gzrD0IV
— Quay L.Jones🦅 #FlyEaglesFly SBLIX CHAMPIONS!! (@QuayLJones3) July 1, 2025
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