The NFL Players Association came out swinging Tuesday, delivering a decisive blow to the league’s expansion dreams while celebrating a historic contract win for the 2025 second-round draft class, a 33% increase from the previous year.
NFLPA interim executive director David White made it clear that players have “no appetite” for an 18-game regular season.
White reinforced his firm opposition after Commissioner Roger Goodell claimed there have been no “formal discussions” about adding another game. The union wanted to slam the door shut before negotiations even begin.
NFLPA interim executive David White rejects push for 18-game season
According to White, NFL players are drawing a hard line against changes that harm player health because the league has already expanded to 17 games in 2021.
“Our members have no appetite for an 18th regular-season game,” White said during Tuesday’s press conference. “The 18th game is not casual for us. It’s a very serious issue.”
White pointed to brutal injuries from Week 16 and Wild Card Weekend as evidence, saying, “It’s punishing. The biggest storyline was arguably about critical contributors going down.
He emphasized injuries cost players paychecks, shorten careers, and diminish lifetime earnings. With the average NFL career lasting 3-4 years, an extra game becomes “existential.”
NFLPA interim executive director David White told reporters today that the union has no appetite for an 18th regular-season game. pic.twitter.com/pny501PRZW
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 3, 2026
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White’s stance echoes his previous remarks from September 2025 when he stated an 18-game season is “not inevitable.” And his position contrasts with the New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who said expanding to 18 games “seems inevitable.”
NFLPA forces $247 million fully guaranteed jackpot for rookies
While shutting down the 18-game push, the NFLPA celebrated a massive win for second-round draft picks. To demonstrate the union’s current leverage and stability, White secured $247.2 million in total guarantees for the 2025 draft class. It is a $61.5 million increase from 2024’s $185.7 million, according to NFLPA figures.
This big shift happened after about 30 second-round picks stayed unsigned and skipped training camp. The Houston Texans started it by giving their No. 34 pick, receiver Jayden Higgins, a fully guaranteed contract — the first ever for a second-rounder.
The Cleveland Browns followed the next day with a similar full guarantee for their No. 33 pick, linebacker Carson Schwesinger. But before 2025, something like this never happened.
“This is a tremendous win that will literally pay dividends for our union’s current and future members,” NFLPA director of salary cap Adam Richelieu said.
NFLPA had projected $225.4 million in total guarantees, but the actual amount came in at $247.2 million, which is $21.8 million more than expected. That extra money gives players more protection if they’re cut before their rookie contracts end.
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