One of the NFL’s most debated topics in recent years is the potential move to an 18-game season. Owners, league officials, and players remain divided, with each group holding firm on key points. Against this backdrop, the Patriots’ owner, Robert Kraft, has laid out his conditions for approving the expansion.
Starting this Sunday, team owners, coaches, and top executives are meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, for the NFL Annual Meeting, where they are discussing issues critical to the league’s future.
Topics on the agenda include adjustments to free agency rules, possible changes to in-game regulations, and the introduction of replacement officials beginning in the 2026 season.
As in past years, the idea of extending the regular season to 18 games has resurfaced. With strong arguments both for and against, Kraft made clear what would need to happen for him to support the change.
Kraft’s three conditions for expanding the NFL season
According to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, Kraft would back an 18-game season if the following conditions are met:
- Reduce the preseason from three games to two
- Add a second bye week
- Require all 32 teams to play one international game each year
Analysts quickly weighed in on Kraft’s proposal. Ernesto Cova of Newsweek noted that the first two conditions are logical, explaining:
Preseason games are dress rehearsals for most teams anyway, and a second bye week would help players recover and stay healthier during the grind of the season.
The third condition, however, has already sparked controversy.
International games remain unpopular among players
As Cova explained, players generally oppose international games. The long travel disrupts schedules and adds fatigue to an already demanding season.
It would help drive revenue up, which is always a positive, but it may not necessarily be in the players’ best interests.
Kraft, one of the league’s most influential owners, could sway others to support his demands. If that happens, it may advance one of Commissioner Roger Goodell’s long-standing goals. For now, the league and players’ response remains uncertain.
