When Did The NFL Go To 17 Games?

A look at the history of the NFL regular season and how it has changed over time.

The NFL’s History with Game Schedules

The National Football League has had several different game schedule formats throughout its history. The most recent change was increasing the regular season from 16 games to 17 games. This change took effect in the 2021 season. Prior to this, the last time the NFL changed its game schedule was in 1978.

Pre-1933: 10 to 12 games

The NFL’s first season was in 1920 and had 14 teams. The length of the season was unclear in the beginning; it started out as an experimental season with just a few games. In 1921, the season was set at 10 games, and it would remain that way for the next 12 years.

In 1933, the NFL increased its regular season schedule to 12 games due to public demand and the belief that more gate receipts could be generated by having more games. The 1933 NFL Championship Game, which featured the Chicago Bears and New York Giants, drew a then-record crowd of 73,000 fans to Wrigley Field.

1933-1949: 12 games

The NFL’s first regular season game was held on October 3, 1920, between the Dayton Triangles and the Columbus Panhandles. At the time, there were 14 teams in the league. The league played a 12-game schedule in 1920 and 1921. In 1922 and 1923, it played an 11-game schedule, cutting one game due to scheduling difficulties. The league went back to 12 games in 1924.

1950-1977: 14 games

The NFL season has fluctuated in length throughout the years, expanding and reducing the number of games played by teams. The 14-game schedule was adopted in 1950, then expanded to 16 contests in 1961. After the 1972 season, the NFL increased the regular season to a 17-game schedule.

The number of interconference games played by each team has also varied over time. In 1950, each team played six interconference games. The number increased to eight in 1961 and then decreased to six again from 1966 through 1969. From 1970 through 1977, each team played seven interconference games.

1978-1989: 16 games

The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XIII, when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys by a score of 35–31.This was the first season of 16 regular season games, as the league expanded from 14 games to 16 games, a trend that began in 1961 and would continue through 2021.

In 1989, the NFL returned to a 16-game schedule after having played 17 games in each of its first three seasons (1987-1989).

Why the Change to 17 Games?

The National Football League has seen a lot of changes over the years, but one of the most notable changes was the switch from 16 games to 17 games. This change occurred in 2021, and there were a few reasons for it. The most cited reason was that it would help generate more revenue, but there were also other benefits. Let’s take a look at why the NFL made this change.

More revenue

The NFL’s decision to go to a 17-game regular season was driven by one thing: money.

The league’s broadcast partners were not happy with the quality of the product during the 16-game season, particularly with an increase in games being flexed out of primetime slots late in the year. So the NFL used that as leverage to get more money from its television partners. And it worked.

The NFL is set to earn an extra $2.8 billion per year on its TV contracts with CBS, NBC, FOX and ESPN thanks to the 17th game. That comes out to an extra $100 million per team, which is why the league and its owners were quick to vote in favor of the change.

More fan engagement

The NFL added a 17th regular-season game in 2021, a move that had been expected for several years. The decision was made in consultation with the NFL Players Association, which has a say in any change to the regular-season schedule.

The additional game will be played by each team once during the season. It will be included in each team’s home schedule and will rotate out every eight years. In 2021, for example, the AFC West will play the NFC East – a repeat of the 2020 schedule – and the AFC East will play the NFC West.

The NFL believes that the additional game will create more fan engagement, as each team’s fans will have one more opportunity to see their team play at home. The league also believes it will create more cross-country rivalries, as teams from different divisions will be playing each other more often.

It remains to be seen how well the 17-game schedule will be received by fans and players. The extra game means that players will have to endure one more week of hits and potential injuries, and they may not be compensated any differently for their trouble. Some fans may also object to paying for an extra game that they may not want to see, especially if it’s not a rivalry match-up.

More parity among teams

In March 2020, the NFL approved a proposal to increase the regular season from 16 to 17 games, starting with the 2021 season. The additional game will be added to the schedule of each team one time every eight years, with the hope that each team will play every other team at least once every eight years. This move was made in order to create more parity among teams, as well as to generate more revenue for the league.

The NFL has seen a decline in ratings over the past few years, and this move is hoped to help increase interest in the league. In addition, the NFLPA (the players’ union) has been pushing for an increased regular season schedule, as it would mean an increase in player salaries.

The NFL has not yet released details on how the additional game will be scheduled, but it is expected that each team will play one additional home game and one additional away game. This could mean that some teams will have an uneven number of home and away games in a given season, but this has not yet been confirmed.

How Will This Affect the Future of the NFL?

The NFL’s announcement to add a seventeenth game to the regular season schedule beginning in 2021 has many wondering how this will affect the future of the league. Some are concerned about player safety, while others believe the move will generate more revenue. Let’s explore the pros and cons of the NFL’s decision to add an additional game to the schedule.

More player safety concerns

With the NFL expanding the regular season to 17 games, there are bound to be more player safety concerns. This is especially true given the fact that most NFL players are already playing with injuries.

One of the biggest concerns is that players will be even more susceptible to injuries, both chronic and acute. This is because they will be playing more games and practices leading up to those games. In addition, they will likely be wearing less protective gear in order to stay cooler during the hotter months of the season.

Another concern is that the quality of play will suffer. This is because teams will be forced to play guys who are less than 100% healthy and because there will be moreinterested in resting players for the playoffs rather than winning every game.

The bottom line is that the NFL’s decision to go to a 17-game regular season is sure to have some unintended consequences. Only time will tell how significant those consequences will be.

Less rest for players

The most significant change for players is that they will now have one less week of rest and preparation between games. The regular season will remain at 16 games, but there will be an additional game added to the preseason, bringing that total up to 17. In exchange for this additional game, the NFL bye week will be eliminated. So instead of each team getting one week off during the season to rest and prepare, they will now have to play through their bye week.

Increased risk of injury

The increased risk of injury is the biggest concern for the NFL with the expanded schedule. In a study done by the American Journal of Sports Medicine, it was shown that players who played more than 16 games in a season were more likely to be injured the following season. The study also showed that there was a decrease in performance for players who played more than 16 games. This is a concern for the NFL because they do not want to see a decline in the quality of their product.

The other concern for the NFL is player burnout. With an extra game added to the schedule, players will have to deal with more physical and mental fatigue. This could lead to them missing games or not performing at their highest level. The NFL will need to monitor this closely to make sure that players are not overworked.

The expanded schedule will also have an effect on how teams prepare for the season. With an extra game, teams will have to adjust their practice schedules and game plans. They will also need to add an extra week of preparation into their training camp schedule. This could lead to some teams being at a disadvantage if they do not have enough time to prepare properly.