The NFL has efforted for years to build its inventory of international games, starting with the Cardinals' "home" game in Mexico City back in 2005 against the 49ers and eventually expanding to London and now countries like Brazil and, as announced officially this week, Australia.
And those games, among other things, are going to be part of the discussion when it comes to whether the NFL expands its regular season to 18 games.
The NFL went to a 17-game season in 2021, when the league and the players began their new collective bargaining agreement. But the suggestion of an 18-game regular season (trimming the preseason from three down to two games) has always been out there. Commissioner Roger Goodell has spoken of it multiple times of late, and the NFL Players Association had its chance to talk about it during pre-Super Bowl festivities this week.
"No one wants to play an 18th game," NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell said at a press conference in New Orleans. "No one."
One of the big reasons players wouldn't want more regular season games is the toll 17 games already takes on the body. The Melbourne, Australia game -- of which the first will be a L.A. Rams "home" game in 2026, making the Cardinals a potential opponent -- is a 16-hour flight from Los Angeles. And that's shorter than any opponent will have.
The players also have only agreed up to 10 international games a year; there is hope by the league every team would eventually play one international game a season (meaning 16 total.)
At his press conference at the Super Bowl, Goodell said 18 games is possible. "We know fans love football and they want more football. But we have to be incredibly sensitive and smart with the balance and how we deal with that."
NFLPA president Jalen Reeves-Maybin, a linebacker for the Detroit Lions, noted the players he has talked to don't want 18 games. "Whenever anyone sees '18th game,' we get a little bit scared."
Howell said there have been no official discussions yet between the league and the NFLPA about 18 games. It feels like that's going to change soon.
