Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is undoubtedly the face of the NFL, but he isn’t necessarily advocating for the league’s push toward an additional 18th regular-season game. In a recent conversation with CNBC Sport, Mahomes laid out his thoughts on the potential change.
“I think that you’d have to find a way to have more bye weeks, more time spread out,” Mahomes said, discussing the realities of an extended season. His reasoning is clear: player safety. The toll of playing a full slate of games can be brutal, especially as the season progresses and injuries begin to accumulate. “You want to have the best players playing in the biggest games,” he emphasized. “If there were a way to get to 18 games, I’m not — I’m not a big fan of it. But if there were a way, I think you got to add some bye weeks in there to give more time for guys’ bodies.”
His sentiment echoes that of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who has also suggested that a second bye week would be essential if the NFL pursues this path.
The idea of a second bye week makes a lot of sense, particularly when you consider the increased number of franchises in the league compared to prior decades. The NFL’s approach back in 1993, when there were two byes, was unpopular with networks because it diluted the number of games each week. However, with the current 32 teams, the landscape has changed drastically.
Scheduling presents another hurdle. The league often justifies the 18th game by noting that the Super Bowl could land on President’s Day Weekend. Adding an extra bye means navigating the possibility that the Super Bowl could conflict with that holiday, unless the league entertains the idea of kicking off the season on Labor Day Weekend once again.
Regardless of the intricacies involved, there’s little doubt that the 18th game is on the horizon. The only remaining question revolves around whether the NFL Players Association will strike a deal before the 2030 season, or if they’ll face a lockout, eventually settling for the best offer before game checks disappear in 2031. The possibilities are vast, and how stakeholders navigate through these waters will shape the future of the league.
