NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell revealed a clear timeline for the league’s ambitious plan to host 16 regular-season games internationally, saying the goal is achievable “within five years.”
Goodell’s comments, made at Liberty Media’s investor day, bring new urgency to discussions about extending the regular season from 17 to 18 games – a move that would require cooperation from the NFL Players Association.
“We hope to be 16 within five years,” Goodell said of the international slate.
Goodell also acknowledged that a 16-game international series would require a longer regular season.
“We could be doing more regular season than preseason, so we’re looking at a change from the 17-and-three format to maybe 18 regular season games and two preseason games,” Goodell said.
“And that will open up more inventory to allow us to play more globally.”
Goodell’s timeline would set the target for a 16-game international series by 2029, which could intensify discussions with the NFLPA over the season’s structure.
The current collective bargaining agreement runs through the end of the 2030 season, meaning that any adjustments to season length would need NFLPA consent before then.
The league, however, believes that these changes could be made via an amendment to the existing CBA – a more streamlined process that has precedent.
The union, on the other hand, maintains that any change to season length requires a full contract renegotiation.
NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell hinted at a possible willingness to negotiate season structure earlier than 2031, saying in June he “left open the possibility” of a discussion before the current CBA expires.
The NFLPA, however, has been largely silent on the subject recently and declined to comment following Goodell’s statements today.
The push for an earlier renegotiation may also align with the league’s media rights agreements, most of which have opt-out clauses effective after the 2029 season.
If the regular season expands to 18 games by then, the league would have additional leverage when approaching media partners for extended contracts.
With Goodell’s statements today, it seems that league owners are increasingly motivated to make the global expansion a reality – potentially accelerating bargaining pressure on the union.
What are your thoughts on Goodell’s comments?
Do you like the idea of having 16 international games? … Or are you not a fan of the league trying to globalize the sport?
What about an 18-game regular season? … Is that the perfect number???