Roger Goodell 'not a fan' of preseason football

If you asked most fans of the sport, any football at whatever part of the year is great football. Still, when they get down to it in the NFL, Roger Goodell himself would be fine with a faster start.

Goodell shared his thoughts on the league’s schedule in an appearance on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ on Friday. To start, he made it clear that the total number of regular season games is at a good place right now, even though they’re always looking to advance.

“Well, I think we’re good at 17 now. But, listen, we’re looking at how we continue,” said Goodell.

That’s when Goodell turned his attention to the topic of the preseason in the NFL. To him, the preseason, at least three matchups in it, is unnecessary. That’s especially so if they’re able to replace it with a regular-season game, which clearly has more value.

“I’m not a fan of the preseason. I don’t think we need three preseason games,” said Goodell. “I don’t buy it and I don’t think these guys like it either.”

“The reality is, you know, I’d rather replace a preseason game with a regular-season game any day,” Goodell said. “That’s just picking quality, right?”

Moving the schedule around could also have other benefits besides the ones for those on the field. It could also be a positive for the fans, including in one way that got some applause out of McAfee and company and would get more from most football fans.

“If we got to 18 and two, that’s not an unreasonable thing,” explained Goodell. “The other thing it does, which I thought you were going to. That ends up on President’s Day weekend, which is a three-day weekend, which makes the Sunday night (of the Super Bowl) and then you have Monday off.”

The NFL moved to the 17-game season in 2021. That was the first shift in scheduling for the league in almost 45 years. It removed the fourth preseason game and added one in the regular season to the usual number of 16.

Now, after three years of the model, the thought of eliminating the third preseason matchup and adding an 18th game has come up. It’s just a matter of weighing the benefits, specifically monetarily, of an additional game against the risk of another outing for the players.

No one is against more meaningful football, especially if it could potentially set up the dream scenario for the Super Bowl. Goodell doesn’t sound opposed either based on these comments, including his take and problems with the preseason.