'NFL RedZone' host Scott Hanson says he's heard a fascinating bye week concept if the NFL expands to 18 games

Dan asks Merriman where he stands on the NFL adding an 18th game to the regular season schedule. Merriman is for it as long as the NFLPA can secure proper compensation for the players

With talks about the NFL expanding to a 18-game regular season growing, "NFL RedZone" host Scott Hanson said he heard an interesting concept about bye weeks.

Hanson, 54, said he heard a concept about a potential league-wide bye week if the NFL were to expand to 18 games.

"If you had an 18th game, do you add a second bye week? I've even heard a concept where maybe they add an extra game but add an extra bye week that is a complete league-wide bye week," Hanson told Fox News Digital in a recent interview as he's partnered with Lowe’s.

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NFL Network's Scott Hanson speaks on stage during the third day of the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wis., on April 26, 2025. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

"Maybe there is an NFL weekend in the middle of October, early November, somewhere in the middle of the season, where nobody plays a game, let the players recoup, get their bodies right, everyone can get away from football, just a little bit, and then come and play the back half of the season."

Hanson did preface that for an 18th game to be considered a possibility, a lot of big entities need to get on the same page.

"Well, look at, the biggest thing about that is the league and the Players Union and all the partners within the NFL ecosphere all need to get on the same page. And this is big business and a big change. Should it occur? So, they have a lot of talks to do through that," Hanson said.

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