Jerry Jones Sees 18-Game NFL Season Within Reach

Jones said an 18-game regular season may be close, though the change would require negotiations with the players’ union. He argued that adding a regular-season game while reducing the preseason would serve the interests of both players and the league. NFL teams generally play three preseason games, with two teams playing an extra exhibition if they take part in the Hall of Fame Game.

The league’s collective bargaining agreement with players runs through the 2030 season, making additional negotiations necessary for a schedule change. Commissioner Roger Goodell said in February that the NFL had held no formal discussions about an 18-game season and that the outcome was not assured.

Injury risk is a central concern. A league source has warned that an extra game could bring more injuries, including serious injuries late in the season. A player also raised the possibility that stars might sit out late-season games to avoid injury or preserve themselves for the playoffs.

The NFL expanded from 16 regular-season games to 17 in 2021. Its current media rights agreement, signed in 2023 and involving Amazon’s Prime Video and networks CBS, Fox, NBC and ABC/ESPN, is an 11-year deal worth $110 billion. Jones expects another expansion, but the union negotiations and concerns about player health remain hurdles.