The NFL offseason is always a time of swirling rumors, big decisions, and shifting priorities—but the 2026 stretch might be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. Hot off the heels of Super Bowl LX, where the Seattle Seahawks stunned the football world by defeating the New England Patriots 29-13, the league is bracing for a cascade of changes both on and off the field. With nearly a third of NFL teams searching for new quarterbacks and the draft class offering slim pickings at the position, the stakes have rarely been higher for coaches, executives, and fans alike.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The NFL’s calendar is jam-packed: teams can begin using the franchise tag on February 17, the scouting combine opens February 23 in Indianapolis, and the NFL draft is set for late April in Pittsburgh. These dates mark the start of a frantic period as franchises scramble to secure talent, fill coaching vacancies, and prepare for another competitive season. Yet, a looming question hovers over all these moves—will the league expand to an 18-game regular season starting in 2027?
The answer, it seems, is hidden in plain sight. As of February 10, 2026, the NFL still hasn’t announced a date for Super Bowl LXII, which will cap the 2027 season. According to league insider Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, this is no coincidence. The delay is “tied directly to the possibility of the season expanding for the 2027 season.” If the Super Bowl is scheduled for February 20, 2028, it would signal the league’s expectation of an expanded schedule. A February 13 date, on the other hand, would likely mean the NFL is sticking with 17 games for a bit longer.
Ever since the league made the jump to 17 games in 2021, many have seen 18 as the inevitable next step. But it’s not just a matter of flipping a switch. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the issue during his pre-Super Bowl press conference, stating, “It’s not a certainty that the league will add another regular-season game.” He emphasized that any change would require buy-in from the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). That’s proving to be a significant hurdle.
“The 18th game is not casual for us,” said NFLPA interim executive director David White last week, according to Pro Football Talk. “It’s a very serious issue. It’s something that comes out of negotiations and nothing will move forward until players have the opportunity to account for all of those factors—take that into consideration and then, through negotiations, agree or not to the 18th game. But, as it stands right now, players have been very clear that they have no appetite for it.”
Despite this public posturing, the expectation among many insiders is that the NFL will eventually get its way, especially as owners eye international expansion and new revenue streams. New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft recently summed up the league’s business priorities, saying, “We’re going to push like the dickens now to make international more important to us.” Kraft suggested that an 18-game season, coupled with more international games, could help the league “keep long-term labor peace” by sharing higher revenues through the existing collective bargaining agreement.
As the league contemplates these seismic shifts, teams are facing their own set of challenges. The quarterback carousel is spinning faster than ever, with nearly 10 teams seeking a new starter. The Las Vegas Raiders, holding the No. 1 pick, are widely expected to draft Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. But beyond Mendoza, the talent pool is shallow—ESPN’s Matt Miller projects only one other quarterback, Alabama’s Ty Simpson, to go in the first two rounds. That leaves teams like the Minnesota Vikings, who want competition for J.J. McCarthy, and others scrambling for solutions in free agency or via trade.
The free agent market isn’t exactly overflowing with stars, either. Veterans like Aaron Rodgers, Daniel Jones, Malik Willis, Gardner Minshew, and Jimmy Garoppolo are all available, but none are considered sure-fire franchise saviors. Rodgers, now 42, remains undecided about his future after the Steelers’ wild-card playoff exit. There’s speculation that if he plays in 2026, it will be for Pittsburgh, especially after the team hired his former coach Mike McCarthy. Tight end Travis Kelce, another possible retiree at 36, is also weighing his options, telling reporters he’ll consult with his family before deciding whether to return to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Trades could shake up the landscape further. The Raiders’ Maxx Crosby, recovering from a torn meniscus, might not want to endure another rebuild. Other big names potentially on the move include A.J. Brown, Tyreek Hill, and Keon Coleman. Meanwhile, teams in need of offensive tackles or defensive help could target free agents like Rasheed Walker, Braden Smith, Trey Hendrickson, and Alontae Taylor.
Contract extensions are also on the horizon for members of the 2023 draft class, a group that includes standouts like C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, Bijan Robinson, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Their performances have already turned heads, and negotiations for long-term deals are sure to dominate headlines in the coming months.
Off the field, the NFL is grappling with important safety and inclusivity issues. The league’s redesigned kickoff rules, intended to boost returns and reduce concussions, have produced mixed results. The concussion rate on kickoffs nearly doubled from 0.87% in 2024 to 1.69% in 2025, even as punts became safer. Special teams coaches are being consulted to refine the rules further, and NFL executive Jeff Miller acknowledged, “As we said when we first introduced this play, we were going to learn a lot. And we are in the process of learning a lot, both on the game-play side, as well as on the health and safety side to better understand it.”
Inclusivity remains a work in progress. Only one minority head coach, the Tennessee Titans’ Robert Saleh, was hired in the latest cycle, leaving the league with just three Black head coaches. The NFL plans to reinstate its Accelerator program to promote diversity, and Goodell has reiterated his commitment to the Rooney Rule, stating, “There’s got to be more steps. So, we’re reevaluating everything we’re doing... including every aspect of our policies and our programs to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow, rather than yesterday.”
The NFL Players Association is also in transition, with David White serving as interim executive director after Lloyd Howell’s resignation last summer. White has helped stabilize the union, but a permanent leader has yet to be named—a decision that could impact upcoming negotiations on everything from the 18-game season to player health and safety.
Meanwhile, owners are debating whether to give replay officials more authority to throw flags for certain penalties, especially after several high-profile misses on player safety calls. Goodell has floated the idea, saying, “If there’s an obvious error, we need to be able to fix it, and I think technology can help that.”
As the league heads into the 2026 offseason, uncertainty reigns. Will the NFL expand to 18 games? Can teams find their next franchise quarterback in a thin market? Will player safety and inclusivity see real progress? With so many moving parts, fans and insiders alike will be watching every development closely. One thing’s for sure: the next few months promise to be anything but dull in the world of professional football.