Sports · American Football · 4 hrs ago
Rodgers says NFL once considered a week of games played worldwide
After Pittsburgh beat its opponent 16-10 in the NFL’s first game in Paris, Aaron Rodgers described a shelved plan for international games.
He said the NFL and the players’ union discussed the idea during collective bargaining talks in 2020.
The plan would have put all 16 games in different locations around the world during one week.
It would also have made the season 16 games long, with two bye weeks for each team.
Rodgers said the talks ended when team owners pushed for a 17th regular-season game, which the NFL introduced in 2021.
The proposal could have expanded the league’s international presence, but the 17-game season took its place.
Rodgers said he would welcome an international week, though the idea’s future is uncertain.
Aaron Rodgers said NFL and NFL Players Association talks in 2020 included a plan for all 16 games in a week to be played in different locations around the world.
The proposed international week was linked to a 16-game season and two bye weeks for each team.
Rodgers said the discussions ended when team owners pushed for a 17th regular-season game, which began in 2021.
He made the comments after Pittsburgh's 16-10 win in the NFL's first game in Paris.
Rodgers said he wanted the league to invest in events and community work in cities hosting international games.
- Who
- Aaron Rodgers described the proposal. The NFL and NFL Players Association were negotiating it.
- What
- The talks included a possible week in which all 16 NFL games would be played at 16 international locations.
- When
- The proposal was discussed during collective bargaining talks in 2020.
- Where
- The proposed games would have been played in locations around the world.
- Why
- Rodgers said the discussions ended when owners pushed for a 17th regular-season game.
Rodgers
NFL team owners
Aspect
Rodgers
Rodgers's view
NFL team owners
NFL team owners' view
International games
Rodgers
Rodgers said an international week would have been phenomenal for the game and its global expansion.
NFL team owners
Not stated
Regular-season format
Rodgers
Rodgers said the international-week discussions died when owners pushed for a 17th regular-season game.
NFL team owners
Owners pushed for a 17th regular-season game, which brought extra revenue, according to Rodgers.
The NFL and NFL Players Association discussed a possible international week during collective bargaining talks.
The NFL's 17th regular-season game came into effect.
After Pittsburgh's 16-10 win in Paris, Rodgers spoke about the international-week proposal.
- Proposed games
- 16 games in 16 locations around the world
- Proposed season
- 16 games, with two bye weeks for each team
- Collective bargaining talks
- 2020
- 17th regular-season game
- Began in 2021
- Paris game
- Pittsburgh won 16-10
3 sources
What people are saying
The reach of the league is fantastic, and I think I always wanted to be a part of it
I think it'd have been phenomenal for the game. Now, the owners wanted to push for 17 games for the extra revenue because they care so much about player safety, but it would have been nice.
It'd be awesome to see them, you know, have an international week because I think it's great for the game and the expansion of the game.
But they won't because they're tight [with money].
Posts on X
Aaron Rodgers during his postgame presser in Paris: “For a long time in Green Bay, we never got to go overseas because Lambeau was such an incredible home field advantage. Green Bay was never going to give up a game. Then finally we did in ’22. And I’ve enjoyed it. You know, I