Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow proposes an innovative 18-game NFL schedule that includes a Pro Bowl break and shifts the Super Bowl to Presidents' Day weekend.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has unveiled his ideal NFL schedule that would expand the regular season to 18 games and introduce a unique twist to the Pro Bowl.
Burrow's proposed schedule retains the traditional bye week format but adds a "Pro Bowl break" in Week 13, inspired by the NBA's All-Star Weekend. This break would feature 7-on-7 games and skills challenges, aiming to boost Pro Bowl ratings and provide players with an additional break before the season's final stretch.
Joe Burrow Envisions Perfect NFL Schedule with 18 Games and Pro Bowl Revamp
"I think that would get more ratings for the Pro Bowl, and then it would also give everybody that bye week going into the last six games of the year," Burrow explained on Barstool Sports' "Pardon My Take" podcast.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has previously hinted at the possibility of an 18-game schedule, suggesting that eliminating preseason games could facilitate the transition.
Joe Burrow Envisions Perfect NFL Schedule with 18 Games and Pro Bowl Revamp
"I think we're good at 17 now," Goodell said on "The Pat McAfee Show." "But listen, we're looking at how we continue. I'm not a fan of the preseason. … The reality is, I'd rather replace a preseason game with a regular-season game any day. That's just picking quality."
Burrow's proposal incorporates Goodell's idea by replacing one preseason game with an additional regular-season game. This move could enhance the quality of play by reducing exhibition games and providing teams with more meaningful contests.
Joe Burrow Envisions Perfect NFL Schedule with 18 Games and Pro Bowl Revamp
Furthermore, Burrow's schedule shifts the Super Bowl to Presidents' Day weekend, creating a three-day holiday and extending the anticipation for the league's championship game.
"If we get to 18 and two, that's not an unreasonable thing," Goodell said. "The other thing it does, [Super Bowl Sunday] ends on up Presidents' Day weekend, which is a three-day weekend, which makes it Sunday night, and then you have Monday off."
While Goodell's plan has garnered mixed reactions, Burrow's comprehensive proposal provides a detailed roadmap for an expanded NFL schedule that addresses both competitive and fan engagement aspects. It remains to be seen whether the NFL owners and NFL Players Association will embrace these ideas, but Burrow's vision for the future of the NFL has sparked a lively debate.
