Cam Newton discusses reality of expected 18-game NFL season

Veteran Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins is among the noteworthy members of the NFL community who seem to understand it is a matter of when and not if the league moves to a format of 18 regular-season games and two preseason contests per team (minus the yearly Hall of Fame Game).

During a recent conversation with Scott Thompson of Fox News Digital, retired quarterback, one-time regular-season Most Valuable Player and current media personality Cam Newton revealed that he also gets the reality of the 18-game situation. 

Cam Newton knows the NFL expanding the regular season is "good business"

"One thing we all know — and I say this with all due respect — America’s new game has been, for some time, American football. It’s just good business," Newton said. "The Super Bowl garners a global audience that no sporting event can attest to, especially domestically in the United States. So, they know, the more they give, the more they’re able to garner from different audiences."

For years, reporters and analysts have speculated that the NFL will eventually want to replace all existing preseason games (other than the Hall of Fame Game) with regular-season matchups. Newton didn't reference that exact point, but he seems to see the writing on the wall regarding how teams and the league will view the preseason once the regular season is expanded. 

"I think, when you’re talking about the 18th game, it really comes down to if teams are going to really focus on preseason, or negate preseason altogether, just to get right into the regular season. That’s going to be interesting to kind of see," Newton explained.

When could the NFL go to an 18-game season?

Recently named NFL Players Association executive director JC Tretter has said that the union is "not in a position to" begin speaking with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and team owners about proposals for an 18-game season. Per the terms of the collective bargaining agreement that runs through the 2030 campaign, the NFLPA must sign off on any final plan for expanding the regular season. 

One demand the NFLPA is expected to make is for the NFL to add a second bye week to the schedule. Interestingly, Seth Emerson and Ralph D. Russo of The Athletic reported on March 24 that the NCAA football oversight committee could soon approve scheduling what is commonly known as "Week 0" of college football seasons for the weekend ahead of Labor Day weekend. That change could be implemented for the 2027 campaign. 

As Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio pointed out, such a shift may be related to an alleged NFL desire to start seasons on the Thursday ahead of Labor Day weekend under a format that would involve 18 regular-season contests and two byes per club. For what it's worth, the NFL hasn't yet revealed an official date for Super Bowl LXII (the 2027 season's championship game) in February 2028. 

"Man, it’s a lot on the body," Newton added about players being asked to participate in an extra game per season. "If you really look at it, what’s happening is they’re devaluing preseason games as we know it to be, and they’re trying to put it on the back end."