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Berman Linked Hamlin Incident to NFL Season Delay

Chris Berman suggested the 2023 cardiac arrest of Damar Hamlin hindered league plans to extend the regular season.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Football

Expressive editorial sports illustration showing anonymous professional football players in motion on a stadium field during a competitive game.
Chris Berman has linked the league's cautious approach toward an 18-game NFL regular season to the 2023 injury of Damar Hamlin. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Chris Berman has claimed that the on-field cardiac arrest of Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin in January 2023 delayed the NFL's push for an 18-game regular season. The league moved from 16 to 17 games in 2021, but further expansion remains a debated topic.

Why it matters

Extending the season to 18 games requires a new collective bargaining agreement, as the current deal running through 2030 does not permit such a change. League officials have held informal talks on the matter, even as key leadership within the players' union has undergone recent turnover.

The NFL currently operates under a collective bargaining agreement that runs through 2030, establishing the current 17-game season. The league previously proposed moving to an 18-game schedule during negotiations held in 2011.

The players

Chris Berman

He is a veteran sportscaster known for his long-standing career covering the NFL.

Damar Hamlin

He is an NFL player who gained national attention after suffering a cardiac arrest during a game.

Roger Goodell

He serves as the commissioner of the NFL and oversees league-wide operations.

Lloyd Howell Jr.

He is a former executive director of the NFL Players Association who stepped down in July 2025.

JC Tretter

He was elected as the executive director of the NFL Players Association in March 2026.

The details

Following the 2021 expansion from 16 to 17 games, the NFL has continued to explore further growth despite safety concerns voiced by players and observers. Commissioner Roger Goodell remarked in February 2026 that an 18-game season was not a guaranteed outcome, even as the league plans to prioritize the topic in upcoming labor discussions.

Timeline

  1. The NFL and its owners proposed an 18-game season during 2011.

  2. The current collective bargaining agreement was approved in 2020.

  3. The NFL expanded the regular season to 17 games in 2021.

  4. Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest on the field in January 2023.

  5. Lloyd Howell Jr. resigned as NFLPA executive director in July 2025.

Season Trajectory

The push for an 18-game season represents the latest phase in the NFL's aggressive efforts to increase revenue and content inventory. This potential expansion would mark a significant departure from the structure set by the 2020-2030 collective bargaining agreement.

An increase to 18 games would result in a longer regular season schedule and potentially alter player workload management for fantasy rosters. Fans should monitor upcoming CBA negotiations, as any shift would effectively extend the time frame of the professional football calendar.

The takeaway

The league is balancing the desire for business growth with the safety concerns highlighted by high-profile on-field injuries. Fans and observers should expect the 18-game debate to become a central issue during the next round of formal labor negotiations.

Further reading

For more on professional football labor negotiations, visit Football.

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Do you support the NFL expanding the regular season to 18 games?