Imagine An NFL Without Preseason Games

The NLF schedule has barely changed since 1978. Only recently the league added a 17th regular season game. Prior to 1961, the regular season was only 12 games. The Dallas Cowboys were awarded a franchise in 1960. One year later, the Minnesota Vikings were added to the league. The NFL added two games to the regular season in 1961.

The schedule remained at 14 games for 17 years. From 1961 to 1965 the league had 14 teams and were aligned in to divisions; East and West. In 1966 the league added Atlanta. In 1967, New Orleans was awarded a franchise and the league had a major restructuring. The league realigned into four divisions.

Capitol: Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington, New Orleans

Century: New York, Cleveland, St. Louis, Pittsburgh

Central: Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota

Coastal: Los Angeles, Baltimore, San Francisco, Atlanta

In 1970 the NFL and AFL merger happened. The league had grown to 26 teams. A decision was made to keep all the former AFL teams together as the American Conference. In order to balance the league, The Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Baltimore Colts moved to the new American Football Conference.

With 26 teams now in the league, the NFL didn’t add any regular season games until 1978. Two games were added and the league remained with a 16 regular season until recently.

Prior to 1978, there were 6 preseason games each year. Two games were shaved from the preseason when the regular season was extended to 16 games. When a 17th game was added a few years ago, there are now only three games before the league year begins.

There is little doubt the NFL will finally added an 18th game to the schedule. When that happens, preseason games may become extinct.

With first string player’s now seeing very limited action in the preseason, it only makes sense. Coaches now prefer joint sessions with another team to evaluate talent. In joint workouts, the coaching staff can control the sessions, working in special teams work, Two-minute drills and other scenarios. Players no longer require a long time to get into game shape since they now train and stay in shape all year.

Player safety is also a major concern. If, or more precisely, when the 18 game schedule becomes a reality, it makes sense to eliminate preseason games. Season ticket holders hate spending money on those meaningless games and attendance is a fraction of what it once was.

An 18 game schedule is coming. It is just a matter of time. When it does, expect to see each team have two byes. One during the first nine weeks, with the second bye week schedule in the second half of the year.