NFL announces flex scheduling, additional double headers for Monday Night Football in 2023

The NFL is making a big change to its Monday Night Football schedule, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Beginning in 2023, the league will allow flex scheduling from Weeks 14-18 and also feature three MNF doubleheaders.

The NFL currently allows for flex scheduling on Sunday night games, but in the past Thursday and Monday night games have been forced to remain as scheduled. Now, that will soon be changing.

Flex scheduling was introduced in 2006, allowing for games in the Sunday night slot to be subject to change during the season’s later weeks. The current rule states that at least 12 days of notice must be provided for a game to be moved to Sunday night.

For example, a game scheduled for a Sunday could move from a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff to an 8:15 p.m. start, but the change would be made and announced no later than the prior Tuesday, 12 days prior. Sunday afternoon games, as in the past, can still be moved between 1:00 and 4:05 or 4:25 p.m. ET.

For the 2022 season, flexible scheduling will take place for Sunday night games between Weeks 11-18. In Weeks 5-10, flexible scheduling may also be used no more than twice. Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, in which case the tentatively scheduled Sunday night game would be moved to an afternoon start time.

For Week 18, two Saturday games and the Sunday night game will be announced no later than six days prior to January 9.

The NFL announced its 2022 schedule last week, with Denver and Seattle set to highlight the first Monday Night Football Game. That contest will certainly garner a lot of attention after former Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson joined the Broncos this offseason. Prior to that, the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams will kick the season off on Thursday, Sept. 8.