NFL owners in favor of 18th regular-season game, but key caveat added as well

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."

The 2026 NFL owners meetings in Phoenix are underway, and among the discussions is bound to be whether an 18th regular-season game should be added to the schedule at some point. 

Two owners, New England Patriots’ Robert Kraft and Indianapolis Colts’ Carlie Irsay-Gordon, are all for it. 

However, there is a key caveat Kraft would be in place. 

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Robert Kraft and Carlie Irsay-Gordon are two NFL owners who believe an 18th game could be added, but with caveats. (Getty Images)

Kraft reportedly told media in Phoenix that he is in favor of an 18th regular-season game, but he wants there to be a second bye week for teams instead of the standard one week. 

Also, Kraft’s "conditions," according to The33rdTeam’s Ari Meirov was removing one preseason game, which brings the total to two per season, and making every single NFL team play at least one international game each season. 

As for Irsay-Gordon, she pointed to the fact that not every team gets an even number of home games in today’s NFL under a 17-game schedule. But she also agrees with Kraft that preseason should be shortened. 

BILLS STAR DION DAWKINS EXPLAINS HIS ‘COUNTER’ TO POTENTIAL NFL 18TH GAME: ‘CAREERS ARE ONLY GETTING SHORTER’

"Preseason, is, as far as the fan product goes, I know the commissioner’s been open that it’s not the best product that we have," she explained, per the Indianapolis Star. "I would say, for development of our team, I don’t think we can get rid of it."

While owners want it, the NFL Players’ Association noted at the