Patrick Mahomes is unfiltered when discussing the league’s proposal to expand the regular season to 18 games: he’s not a fan—unless significant protections are put in place for players’ health. In a recent CNBC interview, he was clear. “I think that you’d have to find a way to have more bye weeks, more time spread out,” he said. “Because… you’ve seen the amount of injuries that have kind of piled up there at the end of seasons, and you want to have the best players playing in the biggest games.” His message resonates beyond quarterbacks—it echoes what defensive stalwarts, linemen, and the NFLPA have been voicing: an 18-game season without meaningful adjustments would deepen the physical toll on every player’s body (Talksport).
Mahomes didn’t mince words: “I’m not a big fan of it. But if there were a way… you got to add some bye weeks… to give more time for guys’ bodies.” His stance perfectly balances empathy for the sport’s growth with an urgent reminder: progress must respect human limits (Talksport). This isn’t just rhetoric—it reflects reality. The NFL only recently moved from 16 to 17 games in 2021, reducing the preseason from four to three games. That change came after heated negotiations and reshaped how players manage their health and longevity (Wikipedia).
But even today’s 17-game standard is grueling. Mahomes, with multiple deep playoff runs and three Super Bowl wins under his belt, has personally felt the bone-deep wear and tear. When he speaks, he’s not theorizing—he’s warning. He talks of linemen launching into collisions on nearly every snap, receivers sprinting and landing in ways that strain medicine cabinets, and even quarterbacks walking the tightrope of extending plays beyond their limits. “It’s not just about quarterbacks… it’s about linemen who are in a car‑crash every snap,” he reminded .
There is undeniable upside for the league: more games mean more ad revenue, more eyeballs, more content. TV partners, advertisers, and fans generally respond with enthusiasm. But Mahomes shines light on the human dimension. What good is more football if more of it is played without the athletes the public came to cheer?
His words are supported by data. Each additional game correlates with rising injury rates, especially soft tissue strains, concussions, and wear injuries. Players talking about career length often mention peaking around age 30—with each extra playoff or regular-season game potentially subtracting from longevity.
Mahomes isn’t alone. Bengals star Joe Burrow has also advocated adding a second bye week—an idea champions like Mahomes and others believe is essential if the schedule expands (Talksport). Even Lloyd Howell Jr., the NFLPA’s executive director, is on record: “No one wants to play an 18th game. Seventeen is already too long for many guys.” (SI).
The issue around an 18-game season isn’t abstract; it influences training plans, rotations, and player development. Adding another bye week would give strength coaches extra margin to manage recovery—rest that could protect a starter from missing Weeks 15–17 due to midseason wear.
But Mahomes is also practical. He acknowledges that the business side of the NFL wears a heavy glove. Extending into Presidents’ Day weekend could boost TV ratings—and the league has a track record of making similar calendar shifts for maximum exposure (The Sun). Still, he’s drawing a line: more games, yes—but not at the expense of health or transparency.
And so a tense negotiation plays out behind closed doors. Owners and Goodell are vested in growth; players, with Mahomes setting the tone, want safeguards, rest, and schedules designed around human durability—not just profit.
Meanwhile, across the Chiefs’ locker room, another voice resonates just as forcefully: head coach Andy Reid. As the team approaches a season without the fresh mantle of defending champions—following a Super Bowl LIX loss to the Eagles—the tone Reid is setting matters.
For the first time in years, Kansas City isn’t the hunted—it’s the hunter. And Reid’s message? Simple. Prepare your hamstrings. Hit training camp deep. Go all‑in.
Rookie receiver Xavier Worthy recently shared that during Phase I of OTAs, Reid told the receivers, “When you come back, get your hamstrings ready,” emphasizing the expectation for deep-backing and explosive plays (Talksport, KC Kingdom). He wants players to sprint hard, push boundaries, and be physically ready for Reid’s aggressive offense—a style known for stretching defenses and relying on precision timing, especially deep routes.
This is not a drill tactic; it’s a clear demand from the top. Reid isn’t easing off. He isn’t allowing momentum to fade. He wants players in camp who are agile, explosive, and conditioned to attack week one. This tone isn’t just about athletic performance—it’s mental. Reid wants a team that believes in their own urgency, intensity, and relentless commitment.
Worthy elaborated on Reid’s directive: the entire offense is being prepared for deep link-ups—especially with Mahomes. “We started using me a lot underneath…and I can get started over the top because me and Pat are building that rapport together,” he said (Talksport). This reveals two layers: physical readiness aligned with Reid’s goal-setting, and purposeful cultural coaching that harnesses player belief and chemistry.
Reid’s message sends a ripple through every position. Wide receivers must be fast, confident, and prepared for 20-yard outs; running backs must block aggressively and catch effectively; offensive linemen need to anchor protections; quarterbacks must trust the system. Even on defense, the attitude matters. A fast-paced offense puts pressure on opponents to be equally ready.
This is a classic Reid tactic—set expectations early, prepare players physically and mentally, and build momentum before the season starts. And it’s a cultural reset after last year’s endgame disappointments. Following LIX, Reid didn’t sugarcoat. He reminded his team that superstar status doesn’t insulate you from late-game lapses. Being the face doesn’t free you from accountability.
In short, the off-season script for Kansas City is: don’t rest on laurels—reignite purpose.
These twin narratives—Mahomes on player health and Reid on performance—interconnect. One addresses the macro: should the game itself evolve? The other is micro: how does a top team prime itself within it?
They reflect two forms of leadership. Mahomes advocates for systemic care, protecting the athlete’s career arc. Reid demands day-to-day excellence, conditioning players to embody elite standards regardless of schedule pressures.
Together, they define Kansas City’s approach to 2025. If the NFL pushes forward with an 18‑game model, Kansas City has leaders calibrated to thrive—physically, mentally, strategically. But they want fairness: more rest, less overreach, and mutual respect.
There’s education to be found here—for fans, aspiring coaches, even young athletes. Growth in sport must respect human limits. Training must be purposeful. Culture is built collectively, and leadership matters.
As practices begin in late July, watch for hamstring drills, deep‑route precision, and players visibly conditioned for explosive play. Watch how Mahomes leads recovery discussions behind the scenes—whether walk-throughs, light days, or nutrition get special focus. And watch for how the league responds to Mahomes’ message. Will ownership invest in player wellness equally with programming expansion?
A final thought: if change is coming, Kansas City is learning how to win within it. Creative, vigorous, accountable. That’s a philosophy built for evolution.
