(yahoosports) The NFL announced on Tuesday that the 32 team owners have formally approved the expansion of the regular season to 17 games, which will begin in 2021.
Expanding the regular season was essentially a foregone conclusion, as it was part of the collective bargaining agreement that was approved by the players and owners in March 2020. Despite that, it’s still a huge change. The NFL schedule hasn’t expanded since 1978 when the league moved from 14 to 16 games.
The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Green Bay Packers in their 17th game.
In addition to the expansion of the regular season, the NFL also shortened the preseason from four games to three, and affirmed their commitment to international games. Starting in 2022, all 32 teams will play an international game at least once every eight years. Initially, the NFL will focus on scheduling games in Canada, Europe, Mexico, South America, and the United Kingdom.