Commissioner Roger Goodell has said the league is prepared to make changes as the coronavirus pandemic has left many professional leagues around the world, including the NFL, with uncertain futures.
The schedules are expected to be released early next month and include the standard 16-game, 17-week slate but will allow for flexibility, if necessary.
One version would delay the season’s start by up to five weeks while pushing back the Super Bowl, currently scheduled for Feb. 7, 2021 in Tampa, by as many as three weeks.
Two weeks of early-season games could be moved to the back of the season, while a third week would feature two opponents with the same bye weeks. That would eliminate each team’s one bye week.
Another change would include getting rid of the Pro Bowl, which takes place the weekend between the conference championships and the Super Bowl.
It’s unclear whether these ideas have been discussed with the players union.
The NFL usually begins its regular season the weekend following Labor Day, which means this season’s openers would have fallen on Sept. 10 with the regular season ending Jan. 3.
