The National Football League (NFL) is contemplating the addition of another game to its 17-game regular season schedule, according to league insider Mike Florio of NBC Sports.

Despite lingering health and safety concerns, the possibility of expanding to 18 regular season games has not been dismissed by figures within the league.

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry disclosed on the February 27th episode of PFT Live that NFL teams are actively pushing for a two-week extension of the trade deadline.

This suggested that the extension aims to allocate one week for the expanded 17-game schedule made in 2021 and another in anticipation of a potential addition of an 18th regular-season game.

Nevertheless, this proposed move has sparked concerns, with critics contending that player safety should not be compromised for financial gains.

While an additional game could increase earnings for players, it also raises the level of risk, exposing them to a greater likelihood of injuries and potential long-term health consequences.

Florio suggested that adding an 18th regular season game is unlikely to happen until the next labor deal, and the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in effect is set to expire in March 2030.

NFL schedule just added one game in 2021

From the 1978 to the 2020 seasons, excluding 1982 and 1987 due to player strikes, every NFL team participated in a 16-game regular season, with the schedule formula undergoing variations in those years.

The 2020 CBA paved the way for the expansion of the regular season to 17 games, and this change took effect in the 2021 season.