NFLPA Signals CBA Stance as NFL Eyes 18-Game Season by 2027

The NFL Players Association is sending outward signals to the NFL, through the media, about the next round of negotiations for the collective bargaining agreement, which is already catching the attention of team executives and agents.

It’s widely known that the NFL, despite whatever it claims publicly, would love to have an 18-game season in place by 2027, if possible, which is part of the reason why dates have yet to be finalized for a Super Bowl that season, league sources said. 

New NFLPA president JC Tretter, returning to a position he once held before, made a point to emphasize how he is not operating on any timeline for the next CBA, with years remaining on the current one, while fully realizing that global expansion of regular-season games and the league’s ability to opt out of its television deals are pushing the sides together for further talks.

Tretter and the players do not need to agree to any alterations of any sort; it’s going to be up to the owners to present proposals that incentivize the expansion of games in the regular season or playoffs. 

He’s playing the leverage card he has, at a time when the union is perceived to be weakened by recent internal strife and scandal, knowing the onus is on management to try to alter the scope of the season before being able to sell that additional inventory to broadcasters and streamers.

Hurry Up And Wait

“The owners have to come to the players with ideas and concepts to sell the extra game,” is how one high-ranking team official put the state of engagement. 

“This isn’t anything they didn’t already know.”

Tretter, in recent comments to Sports Illustrated, intimated he cannot even speak with league officials until he has a chance to visit with player reps on every team through the preseason. 

“We can’t really move forward until we know where our guys stand, because in the end, they’re the ones this is all about, they’re the decision-maker,” Tretter said.

Of course, modern technology renders all of this somewhat moot, but it’s being seen around the league as an indication of the tack the NFLPA will be content to try to let the owners big against themselves, if you will, to begin this process.

Obviously, growing gross revenues raises the salary cap and means more money for the players, too. 

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.