“At Some Point it has to Stop,” Joe Flacco Questions Push for Longer NFL Schedule

The NFL is slowly heading toward introducing an 18th regular season game and 41-year-old Joe Flacco does not like the implications it brings with it.

“At Some Point it has to Stop,” Joe Flacco Questions Push for Longer NFL Schedule

Roger Goodell and Joe Flacco (Image via IMAGO)

In Short
  • Joe Flacco expresses concern over the NFL potentially expanding the regular season to 18 or more games.
  • He highlights the increased risk of injuries for players with a longer schedule.
  • Flacco acknowledges the financial benefits of more games, including a rising salary cap.

With the speed at which the league is adding more games to its ever-expanding schedule, it won’t surprise anyone if the NFL starts playing 20 games in the regular season. Joe Flacco does not seem eager for such a change.

From the merger until 1977, the NFL played 14 games before switching to 16 in 1978. That ran until 2020, and from 2021, 17 games have been played during the regular season.

Just five years later, the league is already exploring adding one more game to the schedule. In doing so, the league will generate more revenue. Although the owners are on board, the idea has met with severe pushback from the players.

Veteran Super Bowl-winning signal caller Joe Flacco shared his thoughts on the matter during an exclusive interview with Front Office Sports.

It’s got to stop at some point. What happens when we go to 18 [games a season]? Are they going to want 20? Are they going to want 22? We used to play 14 games before I was born. At some point, it has to stop.

Of course, playing more games will increase the chances of players suffering more injuries. Especially for someone like Flacco, who is in the twilight of his years and would prefer staying healthy to extend his career as much as possible.

Then again, Flacco does not rule out the significant bump in the financial area of the arrangement as well. Flacco said:

The revenue’s going to go up, and the salary cap is going to go up, and over time, you are going to be making more money.

The reality is already visible for everyone to witness. Earlier this year, the NFL salary cap crossed $300 million for the first time in history, reflecting the rapid growth of the league, fueled by media rights and broadcasting deals.

Joe Flacco receives concerning news heading into the NFL Draft

Flacco signed with the Bengals for the second time in his career in 2026. Last year, the Bengals traded for him midway through the season after Joe Burrow picked up a foot injury.

"At some point it has to stop" - Joe Flacco Questions Push for Longer NFL Schedule
Joe Flacco (Image via IMAGO)

Flacco played six games, delivering one win. After Burrow came back, the Bengals relegated him to the bench. Flacco chose to re-sign with the Bengals as a last resort because no other team wanted to give him a chance.

After the Bengals secured Flacco’s services, they brought in journeyman Josh Johnson as their designated third quarterback on the roster. Yet, the Bengals’ recent movement indicates that they could add one more quarterback to that room.

Leading the list of players whom the Bengals are eyeing is Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer. Speaking with Justin Mello of Sports Illustrated, Altmyer revealed that he has been busy meeting with NFL teams since the Combine.

I’ve met with the [Las] Vegas Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, and Indianapolis Colts… These teams are getting ready to make their NFL Draft decisions. I’ve just been trying to do my part.

Although Illinois did not have a great year, Altmyer made a big impact on college football. The 2025 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten player posted a program record 64.4% completion percentage, 3007 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and just 5 interceptions. He further added 5 scores on the ground.

According to the consensus draft board, Altmyer is the 281st player in this year’s draft. It means he may go undrafted or, at the very least, be a final-day pick. Adding a young quarterback now makes sense, considering Flacco is 41 and Johnson is 39.

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