Report: NFL to expand regular season for first time in over 4 decades

NFL fans in favor of a longer regular season will get their wish.

According to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the league is expected to expand the regular season by one game, meaning each team would be 17 games moving forward. It is the first time since the league increased the number of regular season games since 1978.

Currently, NFL teams play 16 games during the regular season. Before the expanded regular season in 1978, teams played 14 contests in the regular season.

NFL is expected to expand the regular season schedule this week to 17 games. The league had played a 16-game regular season schedule since 1978, by far the longest stretch without a change in NFL history.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 28, 2021

Schefter’s report did not mention whether or not the expanded regular season would result in a decreased number of preseason games in the NFL. Typically, teams will play four preseason contests. The 2020 preseason was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Expanding the regular season has been a topic of conversation over the past few years, but it appears the league is ready to make the move.