Patrick Mahomes has become the heartbeat of the Kansas City Chiefs, a generational talent whose leadership, poise, and playmaking have redefined the franchise and elevated it to dynasty status in the NFL. He has made history with the Chiefs, achieving three Superbowls and being named MVP in all three of those finals.
For that reason, Patrick Mahomes is considered an authoritative voice when it comes to discussing potential changes in the NFL. The current topic generating the most debate is the league owners’ proposal to expand the regular season from 17 to 18 games. Mahomes has expressed his concern about the physical toll of a longer season.
Debate grows over 18-game NFL season
The NFL owners have been making some changes in the number of matches that every team needs to play in the season. In 2021 they made the first significant changes as they changed from 16 to 17 games. Now their aim is to expand the regular season by one more game.
In 2020, a vote held by the NFL Players Association narrowly approved a proposal to expand the regular season. The decision, passed by a slim margin, came after NFL owners offered increased salaries and additional benefits as incentives. These financial perks played a key role in convincing many players to support the move toward more games.
However, many players remain opposed to extending the season to 18 games, arguing that the current schedule is already physically and mentally demanding. They fear that adding another game would increase the risk of injury and further strain their bodies over an already grueling season.
NFL owners are not ready to throw in the towel; they remain determined to push forward with the plan to expand the season to 18 games. They see it as a key opportunity to boost revenue, grow the league’s global reach, and increase fan engagement.
Patrick Mahomes talked about the expanding idea
Patrick Mahomes is one of the biggest NFL figures, but his comments aren’t aligned all the time with those of the owners of the league. According to NBC Sports, the Kansas City Chiefs star is not a fan of the idea of adding one more match in the regular season.
“I mean, you’ve seen the amount of injuries that have kind of piled up there at the end of seasons, and you want to have the best players playing in the biggest games. And so if there were a way to get to 18 games, I’m not” Mahomes expressed and the added that, “I’m not a big fan of it. But if there were a way, I think you got to add some bye weeks in there to give more time for guys’ bodies.”
For now, the length of the season is written into the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that does not expire until the end of the 2030 season, and because of this, NFL owners cannot expand the schedule until the NFLPA agrees to it.
Patrick Mahomes is preparing a new season with the Kansas City Chiefs, trying to add his fourth Superbowl title in his trophy cabinet. Their journey will start next September 5 when they face the Los Angeles Chargers at home.
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