NFL Owners Consider 18-Game Season for Increased Revenue

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Robert Kraft Sparks Buzz Around NFL Season Expansion

In a recent interview, Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, hinted at a significant development that has caught the attention of football fans and stakeholders alike. He suggested that the majority of NFL owners are considering expanding the regular season to 18 games. This move is primarily driven by the potential to significantly increase revenue as the NFL continues to dominate viewership, with 45 million people tuning into last week's playoff games featuring the Bears and the Rams.

To accommodate this expansion, the proposal would involve eliminating one preseason game and adding an additional regular season game. Moreover, it would require each team to play one overseas game annually. This would not only broaden the NFL's international market presence but also create a lucrative TV package appealing to global streaming services like YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon. These platforms could become exclusive distributors for these new games, tapping into a worldwide audience and generating potentially billions in revenue.

However, the success of this plan hinges on negotiations with the players' union, which historically has seen the owners often coming out on top. While there may be concerns about increased risk of injury with a longer season, the prospect of enhanced player earnings could make this proposal more palatable to all parties involved.