As the NFL continues to expand its reach and capitalizes on the ever-growing popularity of the sport both domestically and globally, talk of adding an 18th regular-season game has become more apparent. 

The NFL Players’ Association has said players “have no appetite for a regular-season 18th game,” while owners like New England Patriots’ Robert Kraft believes “every team will go 18” at some point sooner than later. 

For former MVP quarterback Cam Newton, he’s taking a step back and viewing an 18th regular-season game from both sides. That assessment has him believing preseason games, which every team plays three before Week 1 of the regular season, will become even more diluted.  

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“Man, it’s a lot on the body,” he told Fox News Digital about another regular-season game added to the schedule, while discussing his Iconic Saga Productions partnership with Offscript Worldwide. “If you really look at it, what’s happening is they’re devaluing preseason games as we know it to be, and they’re trying to put it on the back end. 

“Because, one thing we all know — and I say this with all due respect — America’s new game has been, for some time, American football. It’s just good business. The Super Bowl garners a global audience that no sporting event can attest to, especially domestically in the United States. So, they know, the more they give, the more they’re able to garner from difference audiences.”

So, as Newton sees this simply as “good business” for the NFL, he’s implying the league will once again drop a preseason game from a team’s schedule to add the 18th game. It’s what happened when the 17th regular-season game was added in 2021, as the preseason schedule was reduced from four to three games. 

BILLS STAR DION DAWKINS EXPLAINS HIS ‘COUNTER’ TO POTENTIAL NFL 18TH GAME: ‘CAREERS ARE ONLY GETTING SHORTER’

“I think, when you’re talking about the 18th game, it really comes down to if teams are going to really focus on preseason, or negate preseason altogether, just to get right into the regular season. That’s going to be interesting to kind of see,” Newton added.

While the NFLPA has pushed back at the potential of an 18th game, citing player safety as one of the main reasons behind keeping the schedule as is, others like Buffalo Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins see it as inevitable. 

“It’s going to happen either way,” he told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. 

“Then, 20 years later, guess what? We’re talking about a 19th, then we’ll be talking about a 20th.… Then it’s like, ‘Yeah, we are combat athletes all year long.’ But who knows,” Dawkins added. 

ESPN analyst Cam Newton is on the set of “First Take” on Feb. 6, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)

For now, 17 games is what the NFL schedule will read in 2026. But, as Dawkins noted, who really knows? 

To Newton’s point, it’s simply good business as demand continues to skyrocket for the league as each season passes. 

EXPANDING CONTENT REACH WITH OFFSCRIPT

Newton may not be on the field any longer, but he remains tuned in with the NFL and every other sports moment through his content creation, most notably his “Funky Friday” and “4th & 1 with Cam Newton” shows as part of his Iconic Saga Productions. 

Newton and his production team announced a major partnership with Offscript Worldwide, a creator-owned ecosystem that connects culture-shaping brands and platforms under one roof, which includes REVOLT Sports and 3BlackDot. 

Offscript unveiled this new partnership at the 2026 IAB NewFronts, where they will begin collaborating with Newton’s independent production powerhouse, integrating his hit shows and amplifying the reach of athlete-driven storytelling for global brands. 

Cam Newton on radio row at the Super Bowl LIX media center on Feb. 7, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

“When you really think about Offscript, it’s like the ecosystem that bridges so many different facets of our lives, from sports, to culture, to lifestyle and so many different things,” Newton explained. “That transition for me wasn’t foreign. Instead of training to be the best football player, or the best athlete. Now, I’m just training to be the best content creator I can possibly be. 

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“I just always want to be a beacon of the person, in a lot of ways, figured it out as I went. I’m just so thrilled that Offscript gives me and Iconic Saga the opportunity to continue to believe in our vision, and we’re not able to do these things without great partners like this.”

As this partnership kicks off, Newton will also be hitting the road for the “4th & 1 College Tailgate Experience,” visiting HBCU’s across the U.S. to celebrate their heritage and shine a national spotlight on student-athletes, academic programs, and the unique game-day culture that defines what it means to be an HBCU. 

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Phil Foden could reportedly leave Manchester City in the hunt for more first-team football, while Julián Álvarez‘s much-speculated exit from Atlético Madrid this summer may not come to fruition.

Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

Transfers home page | Men’s winter grades | Women’s grades

TRENDING RUMORS

– Manchester City attacking midfielder Phil Foden is ready to leave the club this summer. Football Insider reports that the 25-year-old has been frustrated by his limited playing time recently, and if an agreement over a new contract isn’t reached in the next months, he will look to move to a team in Europe, where several top clubs would be keen on him. Foden has been named on the bench by manager Pep Guardiola in four of his last five appearances across all competitions.

– Atlético Madrid are preparing to ward off interest in forward Julián Álvarez from Arsenal and Barcelona by offering him a new contract, Marca reports. The LaLiga side are believed to be readying a €10 million-per-season proposal that would place the 26-year-old on the highest salary at the club, with plans to make him their “flagship” player and successor to Antoine Griezmann, who will leave for Orlando City at the end of the season. Alvarez has caught the attention of both Arsenal and Barça following his impressive form in the current campaign, but it is said that there is optimism among the Wanda Metropolitano hierarchy that he will sign an extension.

– Chelsea are interested in AC Milan defender Strahinja Pavlovic, according to Corriere dello Sport. The Premier League club are reported to have already made contact with the 24-year-old’s representatives and are now monitoring his situation at the San Siro. It is expected that an offer worth at least €40 million would be required to get a deal over the line, with the Milan seeing him as a key figure among their squad. Pavlovic has scored four goals in 26 league matches this season, while he also starts regularly for Serbia at international level.

– Manchester United are lining up a move at the end of the season for Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, according to The Daily Mail. The 25-year-old is reported to be made United’s priority option amid plans to strengthen their midfield, while club captain Bruno Fernandes has also provided his approval of the proposed addition. Tonali, who has made 47 appearances across all competitions for the Magpies this season, has also previously been linked with Arsenal and Manchester City.

– Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde is on the radar of Manchester City, Manchester United, and Aston Villa. Mundo Deportivo reports that all three Premier League clubs have made inquiries regarding a potential deal for the 22-year-old, and while he wants to stay put at Barça, they could be willing to consider moving him on if they receive a “substantial” offer. Balde, contracted at Spotify Camp Nou until the summer of 2028, is seen as Barça’s first choice starter on the left side of the defense.

ESPN EXCLUSIVES

– OL Lyonnes are close to convincing midfielder Caroline Weir to leave Real Madrid as a free agent this summer. Read

– Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad have resumed work on a deal for Mohamed Salah after the Liverpool forward announced Tuesday that he will leave the club at the end of the season. According to a source, Al Qadsiah are the only other Saudi Arabian club with the finances and ambition to rival Al Ittihad. Read

– MLS clubs Inter Miami and LA Galaxy, along with Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad, are interested in signing Manchester United midfielder Casemiro on a free transfer for next season. Read

– Barcelona are considering an attacking shake-up which would include listening to offers for forward Ferran Torres and the arrival of up to two new forwards. Read

OTHER RUMORS

play

Could Liverpool sign Kvaratskhelia or Olise to replace Salah?

Craig Burley debates who Liverpool could sign to replace Mohamed Salah.

– Barcelona are looking at Osasuna winger Victor Munoz, but a deal could be difficult due to Real Madrid holding 50% of the playing rights on his contract that also includes a clause for them to sign him back. (Mundo Deportivo)

– Real Madrid are continuing to monitor Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate. (AS)

– Manchester United remain interested in Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson. (Mirror)

– Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has no interest in leaving the Parc des Princes this summer amid links to Arsenal. (Daily Mail)

– Chelsea, Newcastle, and Brighton are battling to win the race to sign FC Koln forward Said El Mala. (TEAMtalk)

– Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly is on the radar of Manchester United. (Express)

– Liverpool could sign two wingers this summer as they also look to land a player for the left-flank while finding a Mohamed Salah successor. RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande is under consideration. (Ben Jacobs)

– Several top Premier League and Bundesliga teams are keeping tabs on FC Augsburg defender Noahkai Banks. (Rudy Galetti)

– Inter Milan remain keen on Roma midfielder Manu Kone. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

– Liverpool are among multiple Premier League clubs interested in Sunderland defender Lutsharel Geertruida. (TEAMtalk)

– Everton manager David Moyes is keen to sign West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek. (Football Insider)

The final spots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be decided this month. In Europe, several matches will determine which teams are one step closer to qualifying for this summer’s tournament in North America.

Here were the UEFA matches that will be played Thursday: Türkiye defeated Romania 1-0 in the early game, Denmark got a convincing 4-0 win over North Macedonia, Italy impressed in the second half with a 2-0 win vs. Northern Ireland, Poland responded well in the second half to beat Albania 2-1, we had a thriller between Slovakia and Kosovo that saw the visitors win 4-3 to still dream about qualifying for their first-ever World Cup and Viktor Gyökeres got a hat trick for Sweden to win 3-1 vs. Ukraine.

However, two games have gone to extra time and penalties with Czechia beating the Republic of Ireland and Bosnia and Herzegovina beating Wales to advance to their respective final on Tuesday.

Enjoy all the live updates from today’s matches!