NFL and Players Association Clash Over Proposed 18th Game

New York, February 4: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell expressed the league’s ambition to introduce an 18th regular-season game, with each team participating in at least one international game annually. This sentiment aligns with comments made by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft during a recent radio interview.

However, for this additional game to become a reality, the NFL must secure the agreement of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). On Tuesday, NFLPA interim executive director David White voiced strong opposition to Goodell’s proposal during the union’s annual Super Bowl week news conference.

“Our members have no appetite for a regular-season 18th game,” White stated, emphasizing concerns over player health and safety associated with an extended season. “The 18th game is not casual for us. It’s a very serious issue. It’s something that comes out of negotiations, and nothing will move forward until players have the opportunity to account for all of those factors.”

Both White and NFLPA president Jalen Reeves-Maybin, a linebacker for the Chicago Bears, confirmed that the NFLPA has not been approached about discussions regarding the 18th game, according to ESPN.

“There are 31 owners, each with different agendas and opinions,” Reeves-Maybin remarked when asked about the inevitability of the extra game. “This may be a way for them to influence. We have not opened up any discussions about an 18-game season. It’s not something the players are excited about or pushing for.”

White added, “An arbitrary statement carries no weight. It’s a free country, and people can say what they like, but is it increasingly inevitable? The answer is absolutely not. It’s a point of negotiation.”

Historically, NFL owners have often succeeded in negotiations with the NFLPA. For instance, ownership managed to end the lockout and union decertification in 2011 by implementing a rookie wage scale that reduced rookie salaries. Following an uncapped 2010 season, the league’s salary cap remained stagnant at around $123 million from 2011 to 2013. Owners redirected funds from incoming players to veterans, who had voting rights in the union.

This, along with changes to practice schedules, led to the NFLPA signing a new 10-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The NFLPA later rushed into an 11-year CBA, partly due to uncertainties during the pandemic when the league could not host fans in 2020.

After years of pushing players around, it appears NFL owners are now making public statements about what they expect the NFLPA to agree to, rather than negotiating behind closed doors. The current CBA is set to expire after the 2030 season, but the NFL aims to negotiate labor peace before entering a new round of broadcasting agreements. Current deals allow for opt-outs in 2029, suggesting the league may seek to negotiate with television and streaming companies around that time.

Typically, the NFLPA’s recent gains have not translated into direct financial benefits for players. Ownership is reluctant to reduce their share of revenue and is often advocating for the opposite. While some owners are willing to exceed the salary cap to pay current players, not all ownership groups are on board. For example, the Cleveland Browns have spent approximately $362 million more on players from 2020 to 2025 than the Los Angeles Rams. Goodell noted last summer that NFL owners are questioning the integrity of the league’s salary cap system.

In summary, it seems unlikely that owners will offer players a larger share of revenue. Instead, they are focused on expanding the overall revenue pool. The concern for the NFLPA is how much larger this pool can grow before an 18-game season and 14-team playoff system lead to increased player injuries and burnout.

For a rookie, the transition from a 16-game season and a 12-team playoff to an 18-game season and a 14-team playoff could result in an additional 12 games on a player’s body before they can negotiate on the open market. This is a significant concern.

While the NFL may be willing to offer some non-financial concessions for the extra games, options are limited. Practice time has already been reduced, and padded practices are heavily restricted. The players have also made strides in reducing penalties related to marijuana use. Kraft has suggested that an additional regular-season game could come with an extra bye week and a shortened preseason, but for veteran players, a regular-season game is not comparable to a preseason game, where many already sit out.

It remains to be seen what demands the NFLPA will make in exchange for the proposed 18th game and whether ownership will once again dominate negotiations. This time, however, the NFLPA is not led by an executive director under investigation for misconduct.

For reference, the Packers’ union representative is right tackle Zach Tom, with co-alternates including quarterback Jordan Love, tight end Tucker Kraft, and safety Zayne Anderson, a free agent in 2026. Kicker Brandon McManus serves as a vice president in the union.