NFL intends to extend the 2021 football season to a complete 17 games
The National Football League (NFL) has officially announced that the 2021 season will mark the beginning of a new era, with the regular season expanding from 16 games to 17 games. This change, which has been under discussion for some time, is primarily driven by the league's desire to maximize revenue from media rights and expand its international footprint.
The expansion to 17 games raises scheduling challenges, and the league is considering various solutions. One possibility is shifting some games to weekends and using streaming platforms more extensively, as demonstrated by Peacock streaming a late tripleheader game in 2025.
However, the exact number of preseason games to be cut has not been specified yet. The focus appears to be on regular-season and international games, with no official announcements about preseason game reductions.
The increased regular season schedule is a response to the financial losses during the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a projected multibillion-dollar revenue shortfall for the NFL. The desire to increase the season schedule to 17 games was fortified by this financial crisis.
Looking ahead, there are plans and discussions underway about further expanding the season to 18 games, starting in 2025. This would mean each team playing 17 regular-season games and having one bye week over an 18-week period. However, negotiations with the players' union (NFLPA) about season length have not officially started as of mid-2025.
Player safety is a concern voiced by players like Patrick Mahomes, but the league is yet to address these issues in detail. The expansion to more games (potentially 18 in the future) raises concerns about player health and well-being, which will need to be addressed in negotiations with the NFLPA.
In conclusion, the 17-game season is now a reality for the 2021 NFL season. Plans for an 18-game season in the future are under discussion, primarily driven by media contract revenue and international expansion. Negotiations with the players' union remain pending, and any reduction in preseason games is speculative based on scheduling pressures rather than confirmed.
[1] Rapoport, I., & Pelissero, T. (2021, February 11). NFL to play 17-game regular season starting in 2021. Retrieved from https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-to-play-17-game-regular-season-starting-in-2021
[2] Rapoport, I., & Pelissero, T. (2021, January 26). NFL owners approve 17-game regular season for 2021. Retrieved from https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-owners-approve-17-game-regular-season-for-2021
[3] Rapoport, I., & Pelissero, T. (2021, August 17). Week 18: NFL expands schedule to 17 games, but no decision yet on playoffs. Retrieved from https://www.nfl.com/news/week-18-nfl-expands-schedule-to-17-games-but-no-decision-yet-on-playoffs
[4] Rapoport, I., & Pelissero, T. (2021, February 10). NFL to play 17-game regular season starting in 2021: What you need to know. Retrieved from https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-to-play-17-game-regular-season-starting-in-2021-what-you-need-to-know
- The NFL's decision to expand the regular season from 16 games to 17 games, beginning with the 2021 season, also includes an increased focus on American football, as more games mean higher revenue from media rights.
- As the NFL contemplates extending the regular season schedule to 18 games by 2025, discussions about player safety and player union negotiations are crucial, as the prospect of more games could potentially impact the health and well-being of players, such as Patrick Mahomes.
