Why are there 17 regular season games in the NFL?
In a landmark decision that was taken in 2021, the NFL expanded its regular season format for the first time since 1978 by increasing the slate to 17 games.
On 30 March 2021 at the Annual League Meeting, NFL team owners voted in favor of expanding the regular season, marking the first major change to the competition’s format in more than four decades. The modification was the first since 1978, when the league schedule was expanded from 14 games to 16. Up until just a couple of years ago, the 16-game slate had been in use for 43 years.
“This is a monumental moment in NFL history,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated at the time. “The CBA with the players and the recently completed media agreements provide the foundation for us to enhance the quality of the NFL experience for our fans. And one of the benefits of each team playing 17 regular-season games is the ability for us to continue to grow our game around the world.”
How does it work?
The league’s 32 teams are split into two conferences — the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The 16 teams in each conference are split into the East, North, South and West divisions - every division has four teams.
Every team will play 17 regular-season games with one bye week. Teams will alternate seasons where they host nine regular-season games and one preseason game, or eight regular-season games and two preseason games. The AFC will have nine regular season home games in the 2023 season.
All 32 teams will play at least one international game once every eight years. NFL Kickoff Weekend will begin Thursday 7 September with the Lions visiting the Chiefs. The regular season will end Sunday 31 December 2023. Super Bowl LVIII will take place on 11 February 2024 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.. The 2024 Pro Bowl will be played Sunday 4 February at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
History made and the future secured
As per the Collective Bargaining Agreement from March 2020, In order to move to expand to 17 games the NFL first had to negotiate at least one new media contract. The new media deal was ratified and then announced on 18 March, thereby ushering in the era of 17 games.
Following the league’s drop in salary cap for the 2021 season as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is hoped that the expansion will partially lighten the effects of the cap drop and create new revenue. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero noted that the 17-game schedule should trigger the “media kicker” in the CBA, which will increase the players’ share of all revenue to more than 48 percent.
Will the NFL ever expand to 18 games?
At the moment that seems unlikely, there will be no format changes until after the 2030 season. Any further expansion to the regular season schedule would have to be negotiated directly with the players.