Aaron Rodgers pulls back curtain on bargaining talks with NFL envisioning one week of 16 international games
Aaron Rodgers has revealed that the NFL and players’ union once discussed holding a full week of regular-season games at international venues. He said the idea could have expanded the sport’s reach, but criticised owners for prioritising revenue as the league moved to a 17-game season.
The proposal would have kept a 16-game season and added a second bye week, with one week featuring games in 16 locations abroad. Rodgers named possibilities across Europe, the Americas and Dubai, and said teams should be required to arrive early to engage with local communities. The NFL has opposed setting travel requirements for individual teams.
In short
- Rodgers says a 16-venue international week was discussed.
- The plan would have added a second bye week.
- He wants teams to spend more time in host cities.
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The case for
A dedicated international week could have brought the NFL to more audiences while giving teams time to adjust to travel and engage with host communities. Keeping a 16-game season and adding a second bye week might also have offered a way to expand the league’s reach without adding another regular-season game, while supporting the sport’s long-term growth.
The case against
A fixed week of games across many overseas locations could impose demanding travel and scheduling burdens on players, with possible effects on preparation, recovery and competitive fairness. Owners may argue that adding a 17th game offers a more reliable source of revenue and that teams should retain flexibility over travel arrangements rather than face league-wide requirements.
Explained simply
The NFL is the main professional American football league in the United States. Its regular season features each team playing a set number of matches, alongside scheduled rest weeks known as byes; games are also held outside the US to reach international audiences.
Aaron Rodgers is a veteran quarterback, a position responsible for leading a team’s attack, and the NFL Players Association represents players in discussions with team owners. Changes to the season’s length and schedule can affect players’ rest and travel as well as the league’s income and international profile.
The league has expanded its regular season from 16 to 17 games. Discussions about how many games to play, where to hold them and how teams should engage with host communities reflect wider negotiations over the balance between commercial growth and players’ working conditions.