SAN JOSE, Calif. — The disconnect at the top of the NFL food chain just went public. Less than a week after New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft practically guaranteed an 18-game regular season was imminent, Commissioner Roger Goodell stepped to the podium Monday and pulled the emergency brake. His message to the owners, the fans, and especially the union: It is not a given.
The friction started last week on Boston radio. Kraft, whose Patriots are preparing to face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX this Sunday, told 98.5 The Sports Hub that the league would “push like the dickens” for an expanded schedule. He didn’t mince words, outlining a specific trade-off: 18 regular-season games, 2 preseason games, and an international mandate for every team.
Goodell’s retort at his annual State of the League address was calculated and cool. He stripped away the certainty Kraft had built up, emphasizing that the league hasn’t even brought a formal proposal to the table yet.
“We have not had any formal discussions about it and, frankly, very little, if any, informal conversations,” Goodell said, standing firm before a packed media room in San Jose. “It is not a given that we will do that. It’s not something we assume will happen.”
The Commissioner’s hesitation isn’t just caution; it’s strategy. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) runs through 2030. Opening that Pandora’s box early to add an 18th game requires massive concessions from the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), which is currently undergoing a volatile leadership transition.
“I want to tell you guys that we’re going to push like the dickens now to make international [games] more important… Every team will go to 18 and two [preseason]… and every team every year will play one game overseas.” — Robert Kraft, Patriots Owner (via 98.5 The Sports Hub)
“No one wants to play an 18th game. No one. Some guys don’t want to play 17 just given the toll it has on their body… It’s a non-starter.” — Lloyd Howell, NFLPA Executive Director
While the 18th game remains a bargaining chip, the league’s global takeover is already in ink. Goodell confirmed that the 2026 season will feature nine international games, a significant jump from previous years. The heavy hitters are lined up:
Goodell made it clear the goal is 16 international games annually—one for every team—but that hinges entirely on the schedule expansion Kraft is pushing for. Without the extra inventory of an 18th game, shipping teams overseas becomes a logistical nightmare the union is unlikely to sign off on without a fight.
The timing of this public disagreement adds a layer of drama to Sunday’s Super Bowl between Kraft’s Patriots and the Seahawks. While the owners count potential revenue, the players are counting bruises. The NFLPA has already signaled that any talk of 18 games will require more than just a paycheck bump—they want a second bye week, roster expansions, and reduced offseason programs.
For now, Goodell is playing the diplomat, trying to keep the focus on the field for Super Bowl LX. But make no mistake: the battle lines for the next labor war are being drawn right now, and the first shot was just fired from the owner’s box in Foxborough.
