“I Think They’re Playing With Fire” — Joy Taylor Calls Out The NFL’s Biggest Mistake
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Joy Taylor is really not happy with the NFL’s push toward an 18-game regular season.
The 2026 season gets underway on September 9 with the Seattle Seahawks taking on the New England Patriots, followed by the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams facing off in Australia on September 10, right before the first full NFL Sunday on September 13.
The league currently plays 17 regular-season games. However, NFL officials and players continue to discuss an 18-game schedule. Taylor believes the league could hurt itself if it keeps adding games.
Taylor Calls Out NFL’s Schedule Push
Taylor recently discussed the issue with Front Office Sports. She argued that the NFL already has the right balance with its current schedule.
“One thing the NFL naturally had in its favor was an impeccable sense of urgency because of the length of its season,” Taylor said. “You had just the right amount of games so that every single one matters.”
Taylor said that urgency helps the NFL hold viewers’ attention. She also pointed to the growing number of demands that compete for fans’ time.
“Everything we do in life is distracting,” Taylor said. “And if you have a system that fights the lack of attention consumers have these days, why would you break that?”
She also pushed back on the idea that fans can simply watch more football.
“There are other things people are interested in and obligated to, jobs, family, kids, soccer practice, cheerleading competitions,” Taylor said. “You can’t dedicate your entire life to watching the NFL just because it’s on six days a week.”
Taylor ultimately called the NFL’s push for more games a matter of greed. She warned that the league could hurt its own product if it keeps stretching the schedule.
“I think they’re playing with fire,” Taylor said. “You’ve got enough money. Chill.”
Her comments come just weeks before the 2026 season begins. For now, the NFL will stick with its 17-game schedule. But the debate over an 18th game clearly isn’t going away.
