For the first time in 43 years, the NFL is adding a regular-season game to the schedule, increasing to 17 games from 16.
The move, widely expected since the NFL and the NFL Players Association hammered out a 10-year collective bargaining agreement last March, marks the first time the NFL has increased the regular-season schedule since 1978, when the league went from 14 to 16 games. The move comes less than two weeks after the NFL completed multi-billion-dollar contracts with its broadcasting partners.
"This is a monumental moment in NFL history," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. "The CBA with the players and the recently completed media agreements provide the foundation for us to enhance the quality of the NFL experience for our fans.