The NFL season is likely changing.
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft joined the Zolak & Bertrand show on 98.5 The Sports Hub Tuesday and wrapped up his interview with a clue into what many of the NFL owners will push for in the offseason.
“I want to tell you guys that we’re going to push like the dickens now to make international (games) more important with us,” Kraft said. “Every team will go to 18 (regular-season games) and two (preseason games) and eliminate one of the preseason games, and every team — every year — will play one game overseas.”
Kraft went on to pin part of the regular-season changes on the financial growth of the sport.
“Part of the reason is so we can continue to grow the cap and keep our labor happy, because we’re sort of getting near the top here,” Kraft said. “You know, with the coverage, 93 of the top 100 programs on television (are) our NFL games. Think about that. It’s really amazing. And you look at the size of our crowds versus the other sports. We had that Amazon game on Thursday a couple of weeks ago — 31 million people streamed in.
“And so as long as we can keep growing revenue, we can keep long-term labor peace.”
The Sports Business Journal reported in the fall that the NFL was looking to add two additional international games to the 2026 schedule, bringing the total to nine. The league has confirmed that teams will play in Australia, Brazil, London and Munich next season.