Roger Goodell Hints Buccaneers, NFL Could Play 18 Games in the Future

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wants to expand the NFL season even further.

Nov 13, 2022; Munich, Germany; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (left) shakes hands with Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Jole Glazer during an NFL International Series game at Allianz Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The NFL made the switch to 17-game seasons in 2021 after playing 16 games and four preseason games for a long, long time. And now, that schedule may get even longer going forward.

The NFL currently plays 17 regular-season games and three preseason games, but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell recently said that a progression to playing just two preseason games and 18 regular-season games is a "logical" progression for the league.

Roger Goodell says the "logical step" is for the NFL to expand to an 18-game regular season.

“We went to 16 and four, and now 17 and three. So 18 and two is a logical step.”

(via @business) pic.twitter.com/9iv7tpGLoK

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) January 17, 2025

This would come with some problems that would need some solutions. A second bye week would likely be needed to accommodate the increase in games, as player safety concerns would skyrocket. Additionally, removing another preseason game would make it harder to evaluate talent to cut down from 90 men in training camp to 53 men in the regular season.

The last time the Buccaneers played a 16-game season — the last one in NFL history — they went 11-5 and won the Super Bowl. In their first 17-game season in 2021, they went 13-4 and made it to the Divisional Round of the NFC playoffs before being eliminated by the Los Angeles Rams.

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