The NFL is planning to expand the regular season to 17 games in 2021 – a historic move that would generate new revenue and could at least slightly ease the expected drop in the salary cap next year, sources say.
The announcement could take weeks, if not months, as the NFL must first negotiate at least a new media contract to make the move to 17 games in 2021, according to the collective bargaining agreement. But, as a team source informed of the discussions said, “We are all predicting that this will happen.”
In turn, the preseason would be reduced to two or three games. There would still be a week of farewell per club, extending the regular season total to 18 weeks and postponing the Super Bowl to the second week of February.
The NFL has played a regular season of 16 games since 1978, when it added two games to each team’s schedule. Under the new CBA completed last March, the league and / or clubs have the power to increase the number of regular season games per club to 17 – but no more – at any time, in conjunction with a reduction in the number of games pre-season to no more than three.
While there was always support to make the move to 17 games sooner or later, a projected multibillion-dollar revenue deficit caused by the COVID-19 pandemic increased the urgency of the situation for NFL owners and the players’ union. The sides negotiated a deal in August that will spread the deficit accounting over several years and prevent the wage cap from falling below $ 175 million in 2021 – compared with $ 198.2 million this year.
The cap is still expected to drop significantly in 2021, according to sources, but the 17th game as part of a new media deal could raise it above that $ 175 million floor. Union participation in all revenues has already been set to jump from 47 percent to 48 percent in 2021, and the move to 17 games with a new media deal sets off a “media kicker” on top that further increases the player participation.
While there is no specific deadline for finalizing a new media deal and a 17-game schedule, the launch of the schedule – which normally takes place in April or May – is a logical target.
Reaching 17 games would also open up stock for possible new games from neutral and international sites. The NFL already plays regularly in the UK and Mexico, and is looking at possible games in Canada, China, Japan, Germany and Brazil.
NFL owners did not vote to go to 17 games at the December 16 virtual meeting, but approved the scheduling procedure. Each team would play an extra interference match – AFC vs. NFC – based on divisional rankings from the previous season and on a rotating divisional basis.