Patrick Mahomes Makes His Thoughts Clear on Potential 18-Game NFL Season

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes clarified his thoughts on a potential 18-game NFL season. The rumored shift from 17 to 18 games in a season has become one of the most polarizing topics in the world of football, as the drive for more profits and reach increases.

Although team owners and television executives might be giddy about the same, Mahomes is definitely not. The Chiefs star spoke out on the future of football, and he did not hold back on the physical toll of the longer season.

Speaking to CNBC Sport in a recent interview, the two-time NFL MVP acknowledged the potential of a longer season but didn’t shy away from expressing concern over what it would mean for the athletes who drive the game.

You’ve seen the amount of injuries that have kind of piled up there at the end of seasons. You want to have the best players playing in the biggest games. And so if there were a way to get to 18 games, I’m not — I’m not a big fan of it. But if there were a way, I think you got to add some bye weeks in there to give more time for guys’ bodies.

The player also admitted that meticulous planning needs to be done before penciling in international games as well. The NFL has scheduled seven international games across five different countries in the upcoming season, while planning to increase the count in the upcoming seasons.

The Chiefs quarterback isn’t alone in voicing his hesitance about the longer season. Cincinnati Bengals signal-caller Joe Burrow previously floated the idea of a second bye week if the schedule expands, and Mahomes seems to echo that sentiment. The idea of an extra bye week seems to be a common suggestion, but in an interview in early 2025, former player Ed McCaffrey pointed out a significantly important aspect of a longer season.

McCaffrey noted that while fans and the league may benefit from increased entertainment and revenue, players will likely expect improved pay or revised contracts to reflect the added workload. 

Patrick Mahomes has lot more than football brewing on his mind

In the interview with Alex Sherman, the growth of the NFL was not the only topic up for discussion. The pair, Sherman and Mahomes, also engaged in a chat about the QB’s off-the-field interests, especially his diverse investment portfolio.