Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones believes an 18-game NFL regular season could be coming sooner rather than later, predicting the league could potentially make the change as early as next year.

Jones addressed the possibility Friday during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan as the Cowboys prepare for their Week 10 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

“I don’t think we’re far away from it. I don’t know what is far away. Next month, no. Next year, maybe. That has to be negotiated with the players but it’s in everybody’s best interest,” Jones said.

The NFL currently operates under a 17-game regular season, which it adopted beginning with the 2021 campaign after previously playing 16 games. Any expansion to 18 games would require negotiations between the league and the NFL Players Association.

#Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says he believes an 18-game regular season is close to happening and claims it’s in everyone’s best interest —including the players — to make it happen.

(📽️ @1053thefan) pic.twitter.com/ISwylHteJs

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 13, 2026

Jerry Jones anticipates NFL eventually moving to 18 games

Jones believes reducing the preseason schedule could accompany an additional regular-season game. The Cowboys owner also argued the change could benefit players despite adding another meaningful game to the schedule.

“You’d cut back on the preseason games, you’d have teams more develop in the first few games – the type of thing that you were trying to get done at preseason. But it’s in everybody’s interest and it’s certainly in the player’s best interest in my mind, for sure. And having said that, I would anticipate that coming.”

While Jones expects the NFL to eventually make the change, Dallas remains focused on navigating the current 17-game schedule.

The Cowboys improved to 4-5 following their 27-23 Week 9 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, keeping them in the hunt as they enter the second half of the season.

Dallas will now face a difficult test against the 6-1 49ers in Week 10. The Cowboys will host San Francisco on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox as they attempt to secure consecutive victories and return to .500.