Aaron Rodgers’s international week proposal has reportedly received little to no support from NFL owners, despite the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback believing that playing all international games during one week could help grow the league globally.
Aaron Rodgers has sparked a debate about the NFL’s international expansion after suggesting that the league should introduce a dedicated international week featuring games in 16 different locations around the world.
However, the proposal appears to have little chance of becoming reality. According to a report by Front Office Sports, NFL management and team owners have virtually no support for the idea. Sources familiar with the league’s collective bargaining process also disputed Rodgers’s suggestion that the concept had been discussed during negotiations for the 2020 collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
What Is Aaron Rodgers’ International Week Proposal?
Aaron Rodgers shared his international scheduling idea following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 16-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints in Paris.
The veteran quarterback suggested that the NFL could organize an entire week of international games, with 16 matchups played in different locations around the world.
Under his proposed format, teams would play a 16-game regular season and receive two bye weeks instead of one. One of those bye weeks would be dedicated to the international games.
Rodgers believes this approach could create more opportunities to expand the NFL’s global audience while making international football a bigger part of the league’s identity.
He explained that the concept would have been phenomenal for the game and could have provided an alternative to the NFL’s decision to expand the regular season to 17 games.
Rodgers also questioned the league’s focus on adding another regular-season game, suggesting that increased revenue was an important motivation behind the decision.
NFL Owners Reportedly Have No Support for Rodgers’ Idea
Despite Rodgers’ enthusiasm, the proposal has reportedly failed to gain support among NFL owners and league management.
According to Mark Maske of Front Office Sports, sources familiar with the NFL’s decision-making process believe that scheduling all international games during one week would create significant problems.
One source described the proposal as a nonsensical concept, arguing that the NFL would effectively compete against itself by hosting so many games simultaneously.
The league traditionally spreads international matchups across different weeks to maximize attention, television audiences and commercial opportunities.
Putting 16 games in different countries during the same week could divide the global audience rather than expand it.
Sources also indicated that the NFL is unlikely to consider Rodgers’ international week proposal in future scheduling discussions.
Was Aaron Rodgers’ Proposal Discussed During the 2020 CBA Negotiations?
One of the biggest talking points surrounding the Aaron Rodgers international week proposal is his claim that the idea had previously been discussed during the 2020 CBA negotiations.
Rodgers suggested that the NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) had considered a format involving 16 international games, a 16-game regular season and two bye weeks.
However, sources speaking to Front Office Sports strongly disputed that account.
According to the report, the proposal was never discussed during formal bargaining sessions for the 2020 collective bargaining agreement.
One source expressed surprise at Rodgers’ recollection, saying there was no memory of discussing a 16-game season with two bye weeks and an entire week dedicated to international games.
The 2020 CBA ultimately allowed the NFL to increase the regular season from 16 games to 17 games.
The agreement also included language stating that the additional week could not consist entirely of international games.
NFL International Games Reach a Record Nine in 2026
Although Rodgers’ proposed international week has little support, the NFL continues to expand its international schedule.
The 2026 season features a league-record nine international games, spread across nine different weeks.
The international schedule includes games in several major markets:
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Melbourne, Australia: San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams.
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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys.
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London, England: Three consecutive weeks of international matchups.
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Paris, France: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints.
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Madrid, Spain: An upcoming international matchup in Week 9.
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Munich, Germany: An international game scheduled for Week 10.
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Mexico City, Mexico: An international matchup scheduled for Week 11.
The expansion demonstrates the league’s growing interest in reaching fans outside the United States.
The NFL could potentially schedule 10 league-operated international games next season. A recent owners’ resolution allows the league to organize as many as 10 such games in a season, separate from games operated by the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.
Could the NFL Eventually Play 16 International Games?
Even though Rodgers’ specific proposal is unlikely to move forward, the NFL could eventually reach its goal of playing 16 international games every season.
According to Front Office Sports, league officials and owners appear interested in a long-term plan that would feature one international game for every NFL team annually.
That possibility could be connected to a proposed expansion of the regular season from 17 to 18 games.
One source familiar with the collective bargaining process suggested that an 18-game season with two bye weeks and 16 international games spread throughout the season could be a more realistic approach.
However, the current CBA prevents the league and owners from unilaterally increasing the regular season beyond 17 games.
Any move to an 18-game schedule would therefore require negotiations and an agreement with the NFL Players Association.
Saquon Barkley Supports International Expansion but Raises Player Safety Concerns
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley also shared his thoughts about the NFL’s international expansion.
Barkley expressed support for taking football to new audiences and believes international games can help grow the sport globally.
However, he also raised concerns about player safety and the challenges associated with international travel.
Barkley suggested that teams playing overseas should receive a bye week afterward rather than immediately returning to the United States for another game.
His comments highlight an important issue in the international expansion debate: balancing the NFL’s business opportunities with the physical demands placed on players.
Rodgers’ proposal similarly attempted to rethink the scheduling structure, although his idea of concentrating all international games into one week has reportedly received little support.
What Happens Next With the NFL International Schedule?
The NFL’s international expansion is expected to continue, but Aaron Rodgers’ international week proposal does not appear to be part of the league’s immediate plans.
With nine international games scheduled in 2026 and the possibility of reaching 10 next season, the league is clearly interested in developing its international presence.
A future 18-game regular season could create additional opportunities for international matchups, but such a change would require negotiations with the NFLPA.
For now, the NFL appears more interested in spreading international games throughout the regular season rather than organizing one massive international week.
Rodgers may believe his idea would be phenomenal for football, but NFL owners and management reportedly see significant scheduling and commercial challenges.
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