The Athletic reacts live and covers the latest news ahead of the match. Super Bowl 2026.
The NFL world will descend on the Bay Area this week as Super Bowl 60 approaches.
The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots landed at San Jose Mineta International Airport on Sunday, and then on Monday night, players and coaches from both teams will take center stage for Super Bowl opening night, where they’ll discuss all things Super Bowl, their journey so far and much more.
But, to kick off all the action, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will hold his annual State of the NFL press conference Monday afternoon.
There’s a lot to discuss as the league’s popularity continues to grow in the United States and abroad.
Here are some of the most pressing topics Goodell is expected to answer questions about.
Bad Bunny, ICE and more
The Super Bowl halftime show is always one of the most anticipated events of the year. But the NFL has drawn criticism for selecting an international music icon. Bad bunny as a Super Bowl 60 performer. President Donald Trumpsome speaking figures and more conservative members of the NFL fan base have all deplored the selection of the Puerto Rican superstar. Trump said he will not participate in this year’s gameciting the distance traveled to California while also criticizing Bad Bunny and pre-game performer Green Day. But the NFL has remained firm in his support of Bad Bunny.
Look for Goodell to explain his unwavering support, echoing the stance he took in the fall when he explained that league officials understand that as one of the most popular entertainers in the world, Bad Bunny can help the NFL reach potential fans they might have otherwise struggled to connect with.
Meanwhile, the league and its fans are also preparing for a strong U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence in the Bay Area. This news has caused concern among residents and could lead to protests. ICE’s plans and movements remain unpredictable, but Goodell will likely be asked about what assurances he can offer fans who originally planned to attend the Super Bowl that the festivities surrounding the game will remain enjoyable and safe experiences for them and their family members.
The 18-game season
Since the NFL moved from 16 regular season games to 17 starting in the 2021 campaign, it quickly became clear that the league’s most powerful figures viewed that total as a temporary number and that their real goal involved an increase to 18 games. Goodell hasn’t been shy about saying it, and in recent weeks, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has publicly stated that the owners aim to “push like assholes” to make that 18-game goal a reality. That would involve extensive negotiations with the NFL Players Association, whose leaders oppose the idea.
The current collective bargaining agreement extends through the 2030 season, but NFL owners and officials would like to begin negotiations on a new deal — and the 18-game roster — well before that collective bargaining agreement expires. However, while the NFLPA is in the midst of a search for its next executive director, such negotiations have not yet begun. The players union is expected to elect its next leader this offseason. Goodell could provide a rough timeline for any potential negotiations and also shed some light on the balance the league hopes to strike between seeking continued growth while remaining cognizant of the importance of player safety.
Global expansion
An 18-game schedule isn’t the only tool NFL owners hope to use to boost revenue from their current annual clip of around $23 billion. Owners also want to increase the number of games offered NFL stadiums abroad. In a way, the 18 international matches and series are linked. The owners envision a day when every team plays one road game every season.
However, the NFL still has a way to go before achieving a full 16-game international schedule. The 2025 season included seven international games, and it is believed that the 2026 schedule will include between eight and ten games outside the United States.
Look for Goodell to discuss these goals and the steps the league’s international team is taking to make them possible.
Goodell will also likely discuss the league’s continued efforts to expand its reach by investing in flag football. The NFL is helping introduce flag football to the 2028 Olympics and owners last fall. approved a measure to found a professional men’s and women’s flag football league in the United States. The NFL also continues to invest in popularizing women’s flag football as a high school sport.
Broadcast/Streaming Offers
The NFL is in the middle of a big broadcast deal that earns it more than $11 billion per season. Its games regularly rank among the most watched programs on all networks. In recent years, streaming services like Amazon, YouTube, and Netflix have gotten into the NFL broadcast business, further increasing the league’s value.
The increased demand will likely lead the NFL to seek more flexibility and creativity in how and where games are broadcast, as well as how many games it can fit into prime viewing windows.
The NFL will also likely secure more robust international broadcast schedules to continue reaching its growing audience.
The NFL continues to expand its reach on streaming services such as Netflix. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Persistent diversity problem
Every year, Goodell expresses a desire to see the NFL employ fair hiring practices that will ensure the league’s head coaching and general manager ranks reflect strong diversity.
But the 2025-26 calendar year has seen the league appear to take a step backward on that front, and frustrations remain high for aspiring head coaches and general managers of color.
First, the NFL canceled its annual acceleration programwhich is designed to help connect assistant coaches and emerging talent evaluators of color with team owners and presidents. And then, this winter, the ranks of black coaches and general managers shrank. Mike Tomlin resigned with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Raheem Morris was fired by the Atlanta Falcons despite finishing well in his second season with the team, and the Miami Dolphins fired coach Mike McDaniel, who is biracial. Meanwhile, the Falcons also fired general manager Terry Fontenot, who is Black.
All 10 head coaching vacancies have now been filled, with Sunday’s news that the Las Vegas Raiders target Klint Kubiak and the The Arizona Cardinals have hired Mike LaFleur. Robert Saleh, of Lebanese descent, landed the Tennessee Titans job, but none of the jobs in a league estimated to be about 70 percent black went to black coaches. Meanwhile, there are only two offensive coordinators of color (McDaniel, who was hired by the Los Angeles Chargers, and Eric Bieniemy of the Kansas City Chiefs) despite the league’s efforts in previous years to develop a pipeline of minority coaches.
Morale among assistant coaches and talent evaluators of color is as low as it has ever been, but Goodell and his fellow league officials continue to struggle to find remedies as NFL owners continue to operate like a Good Ol’ Boys Club, passing over highly qualified men of color for their white counterparts, some of whom possess resumes that reflect mediocrity.
Credibility of officials
Year after year, the NFL faces criticism over the quality of officiating, and each season the league and its game officials seemingly fail to meet expectations. The NFL has increased the use of technology to ensure smoother and more accurate results in play review and ball placement. But despite the addition of technology, game officials continue to make egregious errors that impact match outcomes or endanger the credibility of the game.
The most recent example occurred during the divisional round of the AFC playoffs, when a controversial decision turned into a controversial decision. potential capture of overtime by Buffalo Bills wide receiver Brandin Cooks downfield on an interception by Denver Broncos’ Ja’Quan McMillian.
Many coaches and fans would like to see the league further strengthen the use of technology and expand the replay system. Meanwhile, top NFL officials want to make changes, including increased accountability for referees and an expansion of the development program. Discussions between the league and the NFL Referees Association continue, but it’s possible Goodell could shed light on other ways he and league executives are seeking to correct the ongoing officiating problem.
Epstein and the NFL?
Of all the NFL-related controversies, the commissioner probably never considered having to talk about it. Jeffrey Epstein. But on Friday afternoon, news broke that the deceased sex offender had connected the president and co-owner of the New York Giants. Steve Tisch with several women, according to newly released emails. The report stated that Tisch — in addition to receiving scouting reports on Epstein’s wives — invited him to a Giants game and offered him tickets to his suite.
