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Brooke Pryor
Multiple Authors
SAN FRANCISCO — In response to NFL ownership’s push for an 18-game regular season, the NFL Players Association leadership emphasized on Tuesday that players oppose the expansion of the schedule.
“Our members are not interested in an 18th game,” said NFLPA interim executive director David White during a press conference at the union’s annual Super Bowl week event, highlighting concerns over player health and safety associated with a longer season. “… The 18th game is a serious topic for us and a negotiation matter that will not proceed until players can consider all factors and then negotiate accordingly about the 18th game.
“Currently, it is clear that players are not in favor.”
While NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated that adding an 18th game is “not a certainty” during his pre-Super Bowl press conference, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft expressed confidence about an extended schedule in a January radio interview on 98.5 The Sports Hub from Gillette Stadium.
“We’re going to advocate heavily for enhancing our international games,” Kraft told the “Zolak & Bertrand” show. “Every team will have 18 regular-season games and 2 preseason games, eliminating one preseason game, while every team will play overseas each year.”
Currently, NFL ownership cannot extend the regular-season schedule without mutual agreement from the league and the players’ association to start negotiations before the March 2031 expiration of the collective bargaining agreement.
On Tuesday, White and NFLPA president Jalen Reeves-Maybin reiterated Goodell’s remarks, stating there have been no formal discussions regarding the addition of an extra game.
“With 31 owners, each has differing agendas and opinions,” Reeves-Maybin commented when asked if the extra game was unavoidable. “… This may be an attempt to influence the conversation. … We haven’t initiated any discussions about an 18-game schedule. It’s not something players are enthusiastic about or want to pursue. We consistently deliver a high-quality product every season, and don’t feel the need for this change.”
White added: “A random statement doesn’t hold weight. People are free to express opinions, but … is it increasingly inevitable? … The answer is absolutely not. It’s a negotiation point.”
Both White and Reeves-Maybin voiced concerns regarding the increased risk of injuries from a longer regular season. White pointed to notable injuries sustained late in the regular season and postseason, including Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ season-ending ACL injury in Week 15, and quarterback Gardner Minshew’s torn ACL just a week later. Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins also suffered a severe season-ending leg injury in Week 16, and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson left early due to a back injury against the New England Patriots that same week.
“It’s brutal, and we can observe it in teams that make deep playoff runs,” White noted. “This year demonstrated that. … Those injuries impact players’ earnings, potentially shorten careers, and decrease lifetime income. since the average career spans only three to four years, this is an existential matter.”
Not only were White and Reeves-Maybin worried about the implications of an additional game on player welfare, but they also raised issues regarding the inconsistencies in international travel as the league expands its roster of international games. The NFL has announced nine international games for 2026, including matchups in Australia, France, and Mexico.
“There’s an inconsistent approach regarding travel that clubs adopt,” White stated, while recognizing players are excited about competing on the “global stage.”
“Some teams depart several days prior, some leave just the day before, while others stay close to the practice venue. Some face long journeys post-travel while dealing with jetlag, and the following games may lack a proper recovery period for their bodies, which is also inconsistent. … All these aspects must be addressed if we consider expanding or adding more international games.”
Goodell mentioned on Monday that he aims for a 16-game international schedule in the future.
“I believe that’s an important target for us,” Goodell expressed. “We’re on the right path, encouraged by the interest from our side, as well as from communities eager to host games, with many of the world’s finest cities reaching out to participate.”
Beyond the game locations, White and Reeves-Maybin also highlighted concerns regarding the playing surfaces in terms of player health and safety.
though NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller and chief medical officer Dr. Alan Sills recently reported that injury rates on artificial (.43) and natural grass (.42) surfaces are nearly identical, White argued on Tuesday that “90%” of players prefer grass fields.
“The data we have suggests that energy return on synthetic surfaces is considerably higher than that of natural grass,” White explained, “which aligns with players’ experiences and common sense; it’s simply harder on the body.”
When directly asked about players’ complaints regarding the poor natural surface at Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium, White emphasized that field maintenance is equally essential as surface material.
“It’s about having well-maintained grass,” White clarified. “If the grass is patchy, muddy, or frozen, it won’t help. It’s about proper field maintenance. A good playing surface benefits players and their bodies, allowing them to perform the sport we all cherish.”
