Jerry Jones Hints At NFL Changing Rivalry Games Setup

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Holleran | Last updated Oct 4, 2026 11:45 AM ET

Jerry Jones believes that changes could be coming to the National Football League in regards to its rivalry games setup.

The NFL moved from a 16-game schedule to a 17-game schedule a few years ago. But what if the 17th game was something truly special?

The league has several teams that are located near one another – the Cowboys and Texans being an example, both playing in Texas – but they’re typically not in the same division.

However, Jones believes that the NFL could make the 17th game a special, permanent one, essentially making it an automatic rivalry game.

Dec 21, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stands on the field during pregame warmups against the Los Angeles Chargers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images© Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Jerry Jones thinks that the NFL could make the 17th game a permanent, geographically-based rivalry game.

Think Cowboys vs. Texans, Eagles vs. Steelers, Giants vs. Jets, Rams vs. Chargers, etc.

Jones outlined his thoughts during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas.

“You can add that in the mix, and I’m not saying it’s not in the mix,” Jones said. “It’s just that other things come up and you have a different reason for the scheduling. We obviously have a rotation involved that is the best as far as fair, complete competition year-in, year-out, around the entire league. But it’s certainly something that I would look at.

“And I wouldn’t just narrow it down to Dallas and Houston. I’d look at the entire league, you saw a game on TV [Thursday] night between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. They’re in the same division, but those kinds of proximities, those kinds of ‘my town against your town, and who’s the best town?’ Which I think is a fundamental of our game of football. ‘My town against your town. My school against your school.’ That’s a big part of it. It’s hard to emulate anyplace but in the United States to get that rolling.”

Would NFL fans be in favor of it?

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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