San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle recently shared his thoughts on the potential expansion of the NFL season to 18 games. While he is open to the idea, he believes that the addition of a second bye week would be essential to balance out the longer season.
During an interview on the Rich Eisen Show, Kittle expressed his belief that the league moving to 18 games is inevitable. He is willing to accept this change as long as players are given an extra bye week to rest and recover during the season. In addition to the second bye week, Kittle also proposed some adjustments to the offseason schedule.
Kittle suggested the elimination of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) or limiting them to the month of May. He also recommended starting training camp earlier in July, with a gradual ramp-up period leading to full practices by the end of the month. These changes could potentially help players better prepare for the extended season.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has also voiced support for a second bye week in the event of an 18-game season. He proposed that the additional bye week could coincide with the Pro Bowl week, providing players with a much-needed break in the middle of the season.
While the NFL cannot unilaterally decide to move to an 18-game season before the current collective bargaining agreement expires in 2031, there is growing discussion around the potential change. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has expressed his support for the idea, emphasizing the trade-off of fewer preseason games for more regular-season matchups.
Player safety remains a top priority as the league considers increasing the game count. Goodell highlighted the importance of continuing safety efforts to protect players throughout the extended season. Streamlining the offseason schedule, as suggested by Kittle, could be a step in the right direction to ensure player well-being.
In conclusion, the NFL appears to be moving closer to a potential 18-game season. The details of such a change, including the addition of a second bye week and adjustments to the offseason schedule, will be crucial in maintaining the health and performance of players. As discussions continue, it will be interesting to see how the league addresses these considerations in the pursuit of an expanded regular-season format.