San Francisco 49ers fans would undoubtedly welcome another opportunity each season to watch their favorite team take the field. According to one NFL insider, that extra game is likely on the horizon—it's simply a matter of when the league and players can agree on the terms.
SportsBoom's Jason La Canfora reports that the NFL would like to implement an 18-game regular season as early as 2027. One indication of that goal, he notes, is the league's decision not to finalize the date for Super Bowl LXII. However, the NFL Players Association is in no rush to revisit that portion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which remains in effect through the 2030 season.
"The owners have to come to the players with ideas and concepts to sell the extra game," one high-ranking team official told La Canfora.
An expanded regular season would generate additional revenue through expanded broadcast and media rights deals, ultimately increasing the financial pie shared by both owners and players.
At the same time, an 18-game schedule would add another week of physical punishment for players.
"Ultimately, the 18-game slate is coming; it's just a matter of when and how much the owners have to concede to get it," La Canfora warned.
Players such as 49ers All-Pro tight end George Kittle may be more open to the idea if the NFL is willing to offer meaningful concessions.
"Number one, you've got to have an extra bye, regardless," Kittle said in May. "The season's too long as it is. I think 16 games was perfect. They added an extra game for more TV stuff, which, hey, I get it. It makes everybody more money. If you're going to add an 18th game, you've got to add an extra bye."
The current 17-game schedule already places significant strain on players, and Kittle believes adding another game would only increase the risk of injuries across the league.
"But, for me, it's like, you can't keep doing this because the game's hard enough as it is," Kittle said. "If you look back to last year, the amount of players who were hurt, it was actually insane. Let's take care of the guys a little bit here."
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