The NFL expanded its schedule to 17 regular-season games in 2021, and it is viewed as a foregone conclusion that another game will be added at some point in the coming years. There could also be a drastic expansion of the league’s international schedule.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter discussed the NFL schedule during the latest episode of his “The Adam Schefter Podcast,” which was released on Tuesday. In addition to viewing an 18-game schedule as inevitable, Schefter believes the NFL wants every team to play one international game per season.
“I think we’re going to eventually have one international game for every team, per year,” Schefter said.
Schefter on the NFL's future:
In addition to more streaming and an 18 game season…
"I think we're going to eventually have one international game for EVERY TEAM, PER YEAR"
per the Adam Schefter podcast
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 22, 2024
That arrangement would not be popular among players, but it is not as farfetched as it sounds. The NFL has continued to expand to new countries in recent years. There will be five international games in 2024 featuring nine different teams (the Jacksonville Jaguars have two).
The current collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and NFL Players Association runs through 2030. There would undoubtedly have to be concessions from the league if the NFLPA were ever going to consider having every team play an international game every season. That does not mean it is out of the question, even if players have been openly critical of overseas games in the past.
