In a recent press conference, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the topic of potentially expanding the regular season to 18 games, however, he downplayed the idea and emphasized the league's priority of player safety and maintaining a high-quality game.

Goodell highlighted that the length of the current 17-game season already presents challenges for players and teams, making player safety a key consideration. He mentioned that any decision to move forward with an 18-game season would require reaching an agreement with the players association.

The Commissioner also emphasized the importance of game quality, stating that if the regular season were to expand to 18 games, it would likely come at the cost of reducing the number of preseason games. Goodell believes this trade-off would be beneficial as it would provide more meaningful games for fans and reduce the length of the preseason, which often garners less interest.

While answering a question on the topic during an appearance on Pat McAfee's show, Goodell clarified that the issue of an 18-game season wasn't actively being considered at the moment. However, he acknowledged that the league is always looking ahead and considering ways to improve the fan experience.

Despite Goodell's remarks, there is still a push for an 18-game season within the league. The key question is whether the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) will accept the expansion under the threat of a potential lockout when the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires, or if both parties can negotiate an agreement to implement the change sooner.

The Commissioner's earlier support for an 18-game season, despite the NFL's previous concerns about gambling, comes at a time when the league has embraced the betting industry. Increasing the number of games could lead to more opportunities for wagers and increased revenue for the league and its partners.

It remains to be seen when the move to an 18-game season will occur, with the possibility of further expansion beyond that. However, the inherent desire for growth and the potential financial benefits make it likely that the NFL will eventually increase the number of regular-season games.

While the expansion may not happen in the immediate future, the ongoing growth of the league and the increasing popularity of football make it probable that an 18-game season will become a reality, possibly with additional teams joining the league as well.

Only time will tell when these changes will take place, but it is evident that the prospect of an expanded NFL season is on the horizon, even if its implementation is not imminent.