SAN FRANCISCO — Regardless of a renewed push from NFL possession to maneuver towards 18 regular-season video games, NFL Gamers Affiliation management made it clear Tuesday that the gamers aren’t in assist of an expanded regular-season schedule.
“Our members haven’t any urge for food for a regular-season 18th recreation,” NFLPA interim government director David White stated on the union’s annual Tremendous Bowl week information convention, citing participant well being and security issues that include an extended common season. “… The 18th recreation just isn’t informal for us. It is a very severe difficulty. It is one thing that comes out of negotiations, and nothing will transfer ahead till gamers have the chance to account for all of these elements, take that into consideration after which via negotiations, agree or to not the 18th recreation.
“However because it stands proper now, gamers have been very clear they have no urge for food for it.”
Whereas NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated including an 18th recreation was “not a given” at his pre-Tremendous Bowl information convention Monday, New England Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft spoke about an expanded schedule with certainty in a January radio look on 98.5 The Sports activities Hub from Gillette Stadium.
“I wish to let you know guys that we will push just like the dickens now to make worldwide [games] extra essential with us,” Kraft instructed the “Zolak & Bertrand” present. “Each crew will go 18 [regular-season games] and two [preseason games] and remove one of many preseason video games, and each crew yearly will play one recreation abroad.”
Because it stands, NFL possession cannot increase the regular-season schedule except the league and the gamers’ affiliation conform to open negotiations forward of the March 2031 expiration of the collective bargaining settlement.
On Tuesday, White and NFLPA president Jalen Reeves-Maybin echoed Goodell in saying there have not been any formal discussions or negotiations about including the additional recreation.
“There’s 31 homeowners, all of them have totally different agendas and opinions on issues,” stated Reeves-Maybin when requested if the additional recreation was inevitable. “… Perhaps this can be a approach of them attempting to affect. … We’ve got not opened up any 18-game discussions. It is not one thing that the gamers are enthusiastic about or actually attempting to press for. Then we put in loads of work, and we put out product on the market yearly and it is not one thing we really feel the necessity for.”
White added: “An arbitrary assertion carries no weight. It is a free nation. Folks may say what they like, however … is it more and more inevitable? … The reply is completely not. It is a level of negotiation.”
Each White and Reeves-Maybin expressed issues over greater damage charges that would include an extended common season. White identified a number of the important accidents that occurred late within the common season and within the postseason this yr. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL damage in Week 15, whereas quarterback Gardner Minshew tore his ACL every week later. Cleveland Browns working again Quinshon Judkins additionally sustained a ugly season-ending leg damage in Week 16, whereas Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson exited early in opposition to the New England Patriots in the identical week with a again damage.
“It is punishing, and we will see that on the groups which have deep postseason runs,” White stated. “And we noticed it this yr. … These accidents, they value gamers pay, they’ll shorten careers, they’ll diminish lifetime earnings. And when your common profession is already three to 4 years, that turns into one thing that’s existential.”
Not solely had been White and Reeves-Maybin involved in regards to the impression of an additional recreation on gamers’ well being and security, however the pair additionally stated inconsistencies in worldwide journey was one thing they had been monitoring because the league continues to increase its worldwide slate of video games. The NFL has introduced 9 worldwide video games in 2026, together with contests in Australia, France and Mexico.
“It is a seemingly arbitrary method that golf equipment take to journey,” White stated, whereas additionally acknowledging gamers had been enthusiastic about enjoying on the “international stage.”
“Some groups will fly out days early, some will fly out the day earlier than, some will keep close to the apply web site. Some could have prolonged commutes for the gamers after that journey once they’re getting over jetlag, et cetera. After which the video games following and whether or not or not there is a interval of actual restoration for his or her our bodies, that, too, is inconsistent. … all of that must be accounted for if we will speak about transferring even additional away or having extra worldwide video games.”
Goodell added Monday that he hoped to have a 16-game worldwide slate sooner or later.
“I feel that is an essential mark for us to go for,” Goodell stated. “I feel we’re effectively on our approach, with the will now we have from our aspect, but in addition the will for folks to have this of their communities, and a number of the best cities on this planet are asking to do that.”
Along with the areas the place video games are being performed, White and Reeves-Maybin additionally mentioned issues over the surfaces the video games are being performed on because it pertains to participant well being and security.
Whereas NFL government vice chairman Jeff Miller and chief medical officer Dr. Alan Sills stated the NFL’s knowledge exhibits a virtually equivalent damage fee on synthetic (.43) and pure grass (.42) surfaces in a latest information briefing, White stated Tuesday “90%” of gamers choose to play on grass.
“The information that we do have entry to exhibits that the power return from an artificial floor is considerably greater than it’s on pure grass,” White stated, “which reinforces what gamers say simply from their expertise and from frequent sense, it is simply tougher. It is tougher on the physique.”
However when particularly requested in regards to the complaints lodged by gamers in regards to the tough pure enjoying floor at Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium, White added that the maintenance of the fields is simply as essential because the composition of the floor.
“It is well-maintained grass,” White stated. “Scrubby grass that is filled with mud or it’s hardened by ice or what have you ever, that is not useful. It is maintained grass. It is the enjoying area that is good for gamers and good for his or her our bodies to allow them to play the sport that all of us love.”
