Kyle Hamilton Calls NFL a “Dangerous Collision Sport” and Predicts a 20-Game Season

Hamilton added that, while he enjoys the game, he sees no realistic chance for the NFL Players Association to curb the league’s push toward longer seasons. He expects the regular season could reach 20 games within the next decade, driven primarily by revenue considerations.

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Hamilton’s comments came after a high-profile study by Boston University and Massachusetts General Hospital found NFL athletes are four times more likely to be diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) based on players who appeared in at least one game between 1960 and 2019. The discussion also referenced a recent CTE study released earlier in the week and the near-fatal injury to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, underscoring ongoing worries about long-term brain health.

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League insiders anticipate an 18-game schedule could appear before the decade’s end, with possibilities for international games and additional bye weeks. Hamilton noted that the NFL already schedules “Black Friday and Christmas games” and that the 2024 Kansas City Chiefs played on every day of the week except Tuesday, including three contests in an 11-day span. He suggested experimental formats—such as two 45-minute halves with a running clock and a reduced 25-second play clock—could enable a 20-to-25-game season, though he admitted most league-wide decisions are beyond his influence.

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• “It’s a dangerous sport, it’s a collision sport,” — Kyle Hamilton

Sports Illustrated

• “I’d probably push [my future kids] in a different direction,” — Kyle Hamilton

Sports Illustrated

• “I don’t think it’s really realistic in terms of union versus shield power,” — Kyle Hamilton

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