The NFL is moving towards an 18-game regular season, but longtime broadcaster Chris Berman believes that the transition has been delayed due to a critical incident involving Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. The event took place in January 2023 during a Monday Night Football game between the Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals, when Hamlin collapsed after making a tackle and suffered cardiac arrest on the field. This unexpected medical emergency led to the cancellation of the game and caused a reassessment of the league’s plans to add more games to the calendar.
Hamlin was fortunate to survive after his heartbeat was restored on the field, and he has since returned to the Bills’ roster for the following season. However, this alarming event cast a shadow over the NFL’s ambitions to increase the number of regular-season games and raised concerns about player safety and public perception.
Chris Berman’s Perspective on Revenue and Scheduling Decisions
In an interview with CNBC’s Alex Sherman, Berman discussed the NFL’s plans not only to introduce an 18th regular-season game but also to expand its international presence by possibly having every team play a game outside the United States each year. When asked whether the league was pushing the boundaries too far, Berman emphasized that Commissioner Roger Goodell’s primary responsibility is to maximize revenue for the owners, which explains the drive for more games.
Do I think that’s the case? Roger’s goal is from all the owners, let’s make as much money as we can. That’s also fair. It’s his mandate. They pay him really well. He’s a great guy, I’ve known him long before he was that and he’s a regular guy,
Berman said.
Berman suggested that without the Hamlin incident, the NFL might have already implemented the 18-game schedule. He described the cardiac arrest situation as a “quiet down” for the league’s aggressive expansion efforts, given the potential backlash from fans and the public.
The 18 games, ok, I don’t know this for a fact. We might have seen it by now had Damar Hamlin not almost passed away on the field,
Berman commented.
That was a quiet down. Because they were already talking. None of those things get accomplished unless you have three or four years of, ‘we gotta get the players, let’s redo our deal.’ Now the contract runs out in ’30 or ’31 so at this point it’s ok, they had hoped to get it in, I think, by now. But after that, the public outcry, you want them to play more games? The NFL’s not blind. Those optics would have been horrible. Do I know this for a fact? No. This is Chris Berman, observer. Hmm. Let’s quiet it down for a couple years so now it’s back.
Context on NFL’s Schedule Expansion and Public Reaction
The NFL expanded its regular season from 16 to 17 games starting with the 2021 season. Despite its focus on further growth, including the possibility of adding an 18th game, Commissioner Goodell has acknowledged that there are still hurdles to overcome before this plan can move forward. The league’s desire for increased revenue is driving these changes, but the incident involving Hamlin has added complexity to their approach.
Given the NFL’s history of controversies, the organization likely wanted to avoid negative attention related to player health by delaying the schedule expansion following Hamlin’s cardiac arrest. The intense negotiations required to change the collective bargaining agreement and the concerns about public perception mean expanding the season remains a cautious process.
Implications for the NFL’s Future and Revenue Strategy
Chris Berman’s insights highlight the tension between the NFL’s revenue goals and the reality of player safety and fan sentiment. The Hamlin incident serves as a reminder that while the league seeks to grow financially, there are limits to how far it can push expansion without triggering backlash. With the current collective bargaining agreement running through 2030 or 2031, the league still has time to revisit plans for an 18-game season, but the process will likely involve careful negotiation and evaluation of public reaction.
As the NFL continues to expand its international footprint and explore new avenues for growth, it must balance financial ambitions with the well-being of its players and the concerns of its fans. The legacy of the Hamlin event underscores the importance of cautious progress in a sport that faces intense scrutiny.
