Pro Football Rumors
During the period in which the NFLPA was led by interim executive director David White, talks between the union and the NFL on CBA matters were understandably put on hold. J.C. Tretter is now (back) in place on a full-time basis, something which led to the belief an acceleration of negotiations on an expanded schedule could take place.
Indeed, some NFL owners have continued to eye an 18-game regular season being implemented in time for the 2027 campaign. It would come as a surprise if that were to be the case, however. According to veteran NFL reporter Mark Maske, there have still not been any formal negotiations on the matter of schedule expansion or other CBA issues.
An 18-game setup – which would include each team playing one international contest per year – has long been seen as an inevitability. There is plenty of time for an arrangement to be worked out before the expiration of the current CBA (which runs through 2030). However, the lack of official talks points to a relatively lengthy waiting period before any kind of deal will be reached.
As Maske notes, Tretter was a longtime member of the NFLPA’s leadership group prior to his resignation last summer. He will therefore be familiar with the informal talks which took place between the union and the league before the scandal-ridden period endured by the former. Progress during unofficial negotiations could help clarify the sticking points from the NFLPA’s perspective with respect to concessions for an increased schedule (such as travel concerns, playing surfaces and roster sizes). There has been, to little surprise, no appetite on the part of players to move to an 18-game schedule.
Per Maske, there is still no timeline for negotiations related to the CBA to begin in a formal manner. Some believe the process will begin later in 2026, but given where things stand it is at least increasingly likely the next two seasons will continue with the status quo as it pertains to a 17-game schedule.
