The NFL has consistently increased the number of days in a season on which games are played. Some recent examples include annual Black Friday and Christmas Day games. The upcoming 2026 season could get another as Thanksgiving Eve is reportedly being considered, and many around the league had strong reactions to the idea.
Polarizing Reactions to Potential NFL Schedule Change For 2026 Season
Thanksgiving football has long been a tradition in the NFL, but the holiday schedule of games has been consistently increasing in recent years. The newest addition could include another game on the eve of the annual event, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
For those around the league who simply want more football, whatever way they can get it, this would be another win for them. ESPN’s Field Yates outlined what adding a Thanksgiving Eve game would mean for pro and college football viewing.
“This would set up a world in which we could have a 10-day stretch of:
Saturday: Full CFB slate
Sunday: Full NFL slate
Monday: MNF
Tuesday: MACtion
Wednesday: NFL game
Thanksgiving: 3 NFL game
Black Friday: NFL game/CFB rivalry week
Saturday: CFB Rivalry week
Sunday: Full NFL slate
Monday: MNF,” explained Yates.
This would set up a world in which we could have a 10-day stretch of:
Saturday: Full CFB slate
Sunday: Full NFL slate
Monday: MNF
Tuesday: MACtion
Wednesday: NFL game
Thanksgiving: 3 NFL game
Black Friday: NFL game/CFB rivalry week
Saturday: CFB Rivalry week
Sunday: Full NFL… https://t.co/WxQ6YaI7bE— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 11, 2026
While loading the schedule with as many game days as possible is exciting to many, others have speculated about the logistics. SI’s Albert Breer questioned the potential rest schedule for the players involved in these games.
“They’d either have to have two teams coming off a bye, or incorporate the previous Thursday for the teams playing that Wednesday, or just make players play on 3 days rest,” described Breer.
The logistics of this are fascinating. They can’t play games the previous Friday or Saturday … so they’d either have to have two teams coming off a bye OR incorporate the previous Thursday for the teams playing that Wednesday.
Or just make players play on 3 days rest 😳 https://t.co/S0NBUcHrBA
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 11, 2026
The idea of potentially making some teams play a Wednesday game after a typical Sunday slate has many concerned. A Big Ten reporter pointed out what this could mean for the players involved.
“Sunday to Wed? That would be dumb. The bodies aren’t even going to be recovered in time,” stated Genetics56 on X.
Sunday to Wed? That would be dumb. The bodies aren’t even going to be recovered in time. https://t.co/EmH9PlHMUS
— Big Ten information and news (@Genetics56) March 11, 2026
Weekly Thursday Night Football has already been a controversial topic for some in relation to the players getting the proper recovery time. Vikings analyst and former player Pete Bercich offered a potential solution.
“Thursdays are bad enough. Only way this comes close to working is if 4 teams play the previous Thursday,” suggested Bercich.
Thursdays are bad enough….. only way this comes close to working is if 4 teams play the previous Thursday… https://t.co/fuRq6Q3hTV
— PeteBercich (@PeteBercich) March 11, 2026
The theoretical decrease in resting time could lead to more injuries, which have also been on the rise in recent years. Broncos beat reporter Cody Roark called out the league for contradicting itself in these situations.
“When the NFL says they care about player safety, it’s clear they do not. Only way this should happen is if both teams are coming out of a bye week,” responded Roark.
When the NFL says they care about player safety, it’s clear they do not.
Only way this should happen is if both teams are coming out of a bye week https://t.co/uxJH6Grh6F
— Cody Roark (@CodyRoarkNFL) March 11, 2026
The league has remained consistent in insisting that player safety is always its top priority, but many have pointed out that increasing game days and reducing recovery time is a direct conflict with this theory. The Athletic’s Dave Helman mentioned another issue that he’s noticed with the growing schedule.
“A third of last year’s Sundays were shockingly uneventful because of all the extra viewing windows you’ve created,” replied Helman.
It’s an interesting observation that the product on the field may be suffering due to all the extra game days, but it’s fair to wonder whether the league even cares. Their ratings and revenue increase every year, which is likely why they are continuing with this expansion strategy.
