Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow raise player safety alarm but NFL may have other plans for Super Bowl timing

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is not happy with the NFL’s plan to move to an 18-game regular season. He recently said he would only support it if players get more rest through an extra bye week.

However, NFL analyst Mike Florio shared a different reason why the league might ignore Patrick Mahomes’ suggestion.

According to Mike Florio, the NFL wants the Super Bowl to land on President’s Day weekend, which fits better with just one bye week. For the league, TV ratings may matter more than player health concerns.

Mike Florio reveals why NFL wants Super Bowl to fall on President’s Day weekend

NFL insider Mike Florio spoke about the 18-game schedule debate on NBC’s NFL show this week. He believes the league is already planning to move toward an 18-game season, but won’t give in to Patrick Mahomes’ idea of adding another bye week.

The reason, according to Mike Florio, is that the NFL wants the Super Bowl to land exactly on President’s Day weekend.

That weekend usually gives fans a holiday Monday, and Mike Florio says it would boost viewership across the country. But if a second bye week is added, the Super Bowl would happen later than that weekend or the season would need to start on Labor Day weekend, which the NFL has avoided for years.Mike Florio said, “It’s inevitable there’s going to be 18 games. More often than not, an 18-game season with one bye week lands on President’s Day weekend. If you had a second bye, you overshoot it—or you’ve got to start too early.”

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Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow ask for more rest but NFL stays firm

Patrick Mahomes, in a CNBC interview this week, said he isn’t comfortable with the idea of an 18-game schedule unless the league adds an extra bye.

He stressed that the players’ health must come first. “I’m not a big fan of it,” he said. “You’ve got to add bye weeks to give more time for guys’ bodies to heal.”Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow also supported Patrick Mahomes’ thoughts, saying a second bye would make sense to protect athletes from late-season injuries. Still, the NFL seems focused on scheduling, not player safety, as it looks ahead to big ratings and a President’s Day Super Bowl.