Patrick Mahomes 'Not a Big Fan' of Rumored 18-Game NFL Schedule, Wants 2 Bye Weeks

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes says he is "not a big fan" of potentially expanding the NFL regular season to 18 games.

"I would say the more games, it's a little bit more taxing on the guys that play the game," Mahomes told CNBC’s Alex Sherman. "If there was a way that they were to get 18 games in the schedule... I think that you'd have to have a way to have more bye weeks, more time spread out. You've seen the amount of injuries that have kind of piled up there, end of seasons, and you want to have the best players playing in the biggest games.

"If there were a way to get to 18 games—I'm not a big fan of it, but if there were a way, I think you've got to add some bye weeks in there, to give more time for guys' bodies."

The Washington Post's Mark Maske reported earlier this month that the NFL and NFL Players' Association have had "informal" talks about expanding the regular season and could begin formal discussions in spring 2026.

Other players including Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow have also previously advocated for another bye week to come along a potentially expanded season.

The current collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the players' association is set to run through the 2030 season.

The CBA opened the option for the NFL to expand from 16 to 17 regular-season games starting with the 2021 campaign.

The NFL voted to approve the expansion in March 2021, marking the first additional regular-season game added to the league's schedule in 43 years.

The league has been seriously considering another expansion since at least last summer, when NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell told Maske that the union and NFL had been having informal talks at a "very high level."

Howell said in February that "no one" wants to play another regular-season game, and that the 17-game schedule is already "so lengthy that you're still dealing with injuries going into the next season," according to ESPN's Katherine Terrell.

Lengthening the season would likely mean making concessions to players on aspects including compensation for the extra game. Maske reported this month that Howell plans to meet with each team this fall to establish CBA bargaining priorities.

The NFLPA could then "be in position to launch formal negotiations" after the union's annual meeting in March, per Maske.

According to Maske, some owners "had hoped" to add an additional regular-season game as soon as the 2027 season, but delaying formal negotiations until 2026 could potentially move that date back.

CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones reported in March that adding an 18th regular-season game could potentially involve removing one preseason game and beginning the regular season one week earlier in addition to the second bye week.

Some veteran players are also hoping this change will involve shorter offseason programs and the elimination of voluntary OTAs, according to Jones.

The NFL also has an opt-out clause in its current broadcast deals in 2029, which could allow the league to capitalize on an additional game by getting more revenue from partners, Jones noted.

The NFL is set to stick to the current schedule of three preseason games, 17 regular-season games and an early February Super Bowl for the 2025 campaign. The upcoming preseason kicks off on July 31 with a game between the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers.