The NFL announced on Tuesday that team owners approved for the league to move its regular season schedule to 17 games in the upcoming season, citing potential revenue growth in the reasoning. ESPN reports that players agreed to the additional game as part of the recent CBA, which said that the schedule could expand as early as the 2021 season.
Commissioner Roger Goodell called it a “monumental moment in sports history,” according to ESPN. He also said that the league made the move after following data and science to make sure that things proceed from both a health and safety standpoint.
The shift now generates changes to both the preseason and regular season schedules and they are as follows:
- One bye week per team.
- The preseason will now have three games instead of four.
- Sept. 9th is the targeted start date for the regular season, while Jan. 9, 2022 is the targeted end date.
- The Pro Bowl, which was not held in 2020 due to the pandemic, will be played on Feb. 6, 2022 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
- Super Bowl LVI will now take place on Feb. 13, 2022 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
The Pittsburgh Steelers announced that their Week 17 matchup will be played at Heinz Field and they will play host to the Seattle Seahawks.
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