New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has made no secret of his vision for the NFL's future, and it involves more football—not less. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Kraft expressed his hope that the next collective bargaining agreement will expand the regular season to 18 games while reducing the preseason to just two contests.

"In our new labor agreement, I hope we go to 18 games and two preseason games," Kraft told reporter Lachlan Cartwright. "Then if we do that, it would allow us to hopefully go to 16 international games, so we would have every team every year play an international game, which would be built mainly through a streaming audience."

This isn't the first time Kraft has floated the idea. In recent months, the Patriots owner has repeatedly discussed an 18-game season paired with an ambitious slate of 16 international games annually. The concept would essentially globalize the NFL schedule, with every team playing one game outside the United States each year—a massive shift that would dramatically expand the league's international footprint.

The current labor deal expires in March 2031, and many insiders expect the league to push hard for the expanded season during negotiations. History suggests the NFL won't hesitate to use a lockout as leverage to secure the additional regular-season game that owners have coveted for years.

For players, the math may ultimately favor agreeing sooner rather than later. An 18th game means more revenue—especially if the league adds a second bye week, stretching the regular season to 20 weeks and creating 10 additional broadcast windows for networks and streaming partners. More games, more revenue, and potentially more money for the players' share.

The timeline remains fluid, but one key indicator will be Super Bowl LXII in Atlanta. Until the NFL locks in a firm date for that championship game, the door stays open for an 18-game season as early as 2027. If the league had abandoned that goal, the Atlanta Super Bowl would already be set for February 13, 2028—the obvious date under the current 17-game, one-bye format.

Whether fans, players, or broadcast partners are ready, the march toward 18 games appears to be a matter of when, not if. For now, the league's most influential owners are making their intentions clear: more football is coming.