Bills star Dion Dawkins explains his 'counter' to potential NFL 18th game: 'Careers are only getting shorter'

Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl left tackle Dion Dawkins weighed in on the NFL's potential 18th regular-season game debate, viewing it from a player's point of view with a key "counter."

NFL players know they need to give their 100% each day they step on the gridiron, knowing it’s a matter of keeping their job, or seeing it taken by the next man up. 

As a result, the average NFL career is around just three seasons, both from the elite talent pool and the injury risk that comes with a high-octane contact sport. 

The NFL, though, couldn’t be doing better from a business perspective, as football fans crave more action on any given night throughout the season. The 2026 season will be kicking off on a Wednesday night this year in large part due to the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers playing in Melbourne, Australia at 10:35 a.m. local time on Friday morning, which will be Thursday night at 8:35 p.m. ET back in the States. 

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Dion Dawkins of the Buffalo Bills runs onto the field prior to an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Highmark Stadium on Nov. 2, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

No matter where or when, the games will be watched, which is why the 18th regular-season game conversation remains pertinent as the league continues to expand its reach.

Buffalo Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins knows how grueling a 17-game season can be already as someone who’s in the trenches when the ball is snapped. 

"I think the world that we live in is just a different type of world, right? Production, entertainment, sports. We're a part of that world where people want to see football more — they want to see it. So, the 18th game is a beautiful