Robert Kraft, owner of New England Patriots, recently revealed in an interview with the podcast “Zolak & Bertrand” the NFL’s ambitious plans to transform the league’s schedule in the coming seasons. The executive detailed that the organization is studying the implementation of a regular season with 18 matches, an increase compared to the current 17 matches played by each team. Esta change is part of a larger strategy to boost global revenues and ensure that athletes’ salary caps continue to grow sustainably in the coming years.
The proposals discussed by the franchise owners and the league board include profound structural changes to the preparation period and international logistics. Além of the extra game in the regular season, Robert Kraft mentioned the following fundamental points that are on the agenda:
- Reduction of pre-season from three to just two official preparatory games.
- Guarantee that all 32 teams in the league play at least one international match per year.
- Focus on strategic markets outside of Estados Unidos to expand global fan base.
- Maintaining the limit of 20 total matches per team before the start of the playoffs.
The NFL is looking to remove a preseason game in favor of increasing the regular season to 18 games while giving every team an international game,#Patriotsowner Robert Kraft said on@ZoandBertrand. pic.twitter.com/DKeFs8ZsIi
— 98.5The Sports Hub (@985TheSportsHub)January 20, 2026
Expansion strategy and overseas games
The internationalization of the brand is a clear priority for the management of Roger Goodell and has received massive support from team owners. Kraft emphasized that the intention is to make games outside of American territory a fixed and mandatory part of the annual schedule for all participating clubs. With the success of recent matches in cities such as São Paulo and Berlim, the league sees the greatest opportunity for financial growth in the short and medium term in the foreign market.
Brasil continues to gain prominence in this expansion scenario with the confirmation of new events on national soil. Após the successful experiment in São Paulo, Rio of Essa move solidifies the country as one of the pillars of the league’s international strategy, taking advantage of the base of more than 36 million Brazilian American football fans.
Increased revenue and financial balance
The main driver behind the 18-game proposal is the need to generate new sources of income to keep up with inflation in sports contracts. Robert Kraft explained that 93 of the 100 most watched programs on American television last year were NFL games, which demonstrates an absolute dominance of the audience. Esse massive engagement attracts billion-dollar broadcast contracts, which are passed directly to the calculation of teams’ salary caps.
To maintain what Kraft called “labor peace,” the league needs to ensure that revenues rise in proportion to players’ financial demands. Atualmente, the salary cap is getting close to limits that require new revenue fronts for the squads to remain satisfied. Replacing a preseason game, which generates little revenue, with a regular season game is seen as the most logical and profitable solution to the problem.
Challenges in negotiating with players
Despite owners’ enthusiasm, the move to 18 games faces significant resistance from the Associação of Jogadores of the NFL (NFLPA). Representantes of athletes expressed concern about physical exhaustion and the increased risk of injuries in an even longer and more exhausting season. Lloyd Howell Jr., executive director of the players’ union, publicly stated that the union has no immediate interest in accepting the expansion without severe compensation.
Practical implementation of these changes depends on a revision or amendment to the Acordo of Negociação Coletiva (CBA), which is currently valid until March 2030. Discussions should include topics such as extra weeks of rest (bye weeks) and improvements in safety and recovery conditions for professionals.
Current situation of New England Patriots
While Robert Kraft works behind the scenes around the league, his team prepares for one of the most important games in the franchise’s recent history. New England Patriots faces Denver Broncos this Sunday, January 25th, at 5pm (Denver local time), in the Conferência Americana (AFC) final. The winner of the match will guarantee a place in the Super Bowl LX, which will be played on February 8th at Califórnia.
The team led by coach Mike Vrabel arrives at the clash with an impressive record of 16 wins and just 3 losses this season. Quarterback Drake Maye has been the highlight, leading the attack with precision and exceeding expectations in his second year in the league. Já o Denver Broncos will have the challenge of playing with the reserve Jarrett Stidham, who replaces Bo Nix after a serious ankle injury that occurred in the divisional round.
Expectations for Super Bowl and market
The impact of a possible move from Patriots to Super Bowl reinforces the influence of Kraft on and off the field in NFL decisions. Caso achieves victory in Denver, Massachusetts’s team will be able to break the tie with Pittsburgh Steelers and become the franchise with the most titles in the modern era. Esse sporting success directly feeds the league’s negotiating capacity in international markets, where Patriots has one of the largest global brands.
The changes suggested by Kraft reflect a desire to consolidate American football as a truly global sport in the coming decades. The league closely monitors digital engagement and product sales in new territories to determine the next gaming venues outside of Estados Unidos. The planning points to a future where the NFL will stop being just an American league and become a ubiquitous sporting power on all continents.