Expanding the NFL schedule to 18 games has sparked plenty of debate for years. Some argue the game is too physical to extend, while others say it’s fine — as long as players get an extra bye week to rest midseason.
Opinions vary, but Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin says it’s only a matter of time.
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin: 18-Game NFL Season Is ‘Inevitable’
The league moved to a 17-game regular season in 2021, and talk of adding an 18th game keeps gaining traction. Tomlin thinks it’s going to happen sooner or later.
“I listen and hear like you guys do,” Tomlin said via Mark Maske of The Washington Post. “I think (an 18-game season has) been thrown about so much with so much regularity, I think it’s probably inevitable.”
Mike Tomlin on the prospect of an 18-game season in the future: “I listen and hear like you guys do. I think it’s been thrown about so much with so much regularity, I think it’s probably inevitable.”
— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) March 31, 2025
Adding another game has been rumored for a while. Still, the NFL hasn’t taken any significant steps — mainly because it’s more complicated than just squeezing in another matchup and cashing bigger checks. Player safety, logistics, and the league calendar are all real concerns.
Players and coaches are also split on the idea. According to a 2024 ESPN poll, 46% of players said they would support an 18-game season — with conditions. Just 8% said yes with no strings attached, while 19% were against it completely. That leaves the league with a pretty mixed bag of opinions.
Another wrinkle? The NFL calendar. Would the season start earlier, or would it push further into February?
For years, fans and others around the league have floated the idea of pushing the season back so the Super Bowl lands right before Presidents Day, giving most Americans the Monday off. If an 18th game gets added, that shift could happen naturally—and it might be a win for fans, even if it doesn’t do much for the players.
Starting earlier, though, would cut into players’ offseason recovery time. Even a one- or two-week change could lead to more injuries, hurting the overall product.
Then there’s the contract situation.
Would guaranteed money change? Would incentives be adjusted? Would the math have to be redone on deals that are already in place?
The NFL’s financial setup would shift dramatically. If the league were making more money, player contracts would likely grow, too — at least in theory.
It all comes down to money. And if the NFL adds another game with profits in mind, players will expect a piece of that, too.
It’s still unclear how it’ll all play out, but as Tomlin said, it wouldn’t be shocking if that 18th game becomes part of the regular season.