Way back in 1978, the NFL expanded its 14-game season to 16 games. NFL seasons remained at 16 games until 2021 when a 17th game was added. There was controversy around that expansion with players citing concerns about their health and endurance, but the owners voted and it stood.
When the 17-game season was approved, there was talk even then about expanding to 18 games by 2025. Well, here it is 2025, and while it’s unlikely to happen this year, it’s still up for consideration. Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler echoes the sentiments of the NFL Players Association in vehemently opposing an 18-game schedule.
Austin Ekeler says “To me, personally, expanding to 18 games is really outrageous to me. … There are other ways to expand revenue. … Definitely heavily against an 18th game.”
— Mike Jones (@ByMikeJones) February 5, 2025
Ekeler has been healthy for just two of his eight seasons in the NFL, 2019 and 2022. In every other season, he has suffered an injury of some kind, so it stands to reason that he would be opposed to an 18-game schedule.
However, he’s not the only one who opposes adding another game. The NFLPA is against the idea for the same reasons as Ekeler: it puts too much strain on their bodies to continue to endure hits. On top of that, it shortens the offseason because adding a game pushes back the playoffs and Super Bowl.
Shortening the offseason gives players less time to recover, rest, and heal before starting the next season. If players aren’t given ample time to recover and rest, they won’t be up to the task the next season and risk bigger injuries when they ‘play through’ any nagging ailments.
It’s unlikely that the NFL will expand to 18 games in 2025, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen in the future.