J.J. Watt lambasted the NFL's expanded international schedule for losing the plot
TL;DR
J.J. Watt criticized the NFL's expanded international schedule for 2026, which includes nine games in seven cities worldwide. He argues that the increased travel and demands on players are excessive and unrealistic.
Key points
- J.J. Watt criticized the NFL's international schedule.
- The 2026 schedule includes nine games in seven cities.
- Increased travel demands on players are a concern.
Mentioned in this story
If there's one thing J.J. Watt loves doing, it's advocating for NFL players as the talented laborers they are.
Watt isn't shy about using his status, social media, and other platforms to speak out. The pass-rushing legend's inclination to think out loud about all things player welfare, player safety, and otherwise has only been magnified by his role as the No. 2 NFL color commentator at CBS.
On Wednesday, Watt's latest point of emphasis centered on the NFL's expanded international schedule in 2026.
For the first time, the slate will feature nine games across seven cities all over the globe, from London to Mexico City. This, on top of said schedule asking players to push their bodies and mental even more than they should. It's pretty silly when you realize the complete scope and that there will be NFL games in Australia and Munich, among other places. And for Watt, this extensive travel, especially in places where American football is not a dominant cultural touchstone, clearly strains credulity.
He took to his X profile to compare the NFL's new international slate to a "traveling circus." Honestly, when you really think about his criticism, he kind of has a point.
There was a time when an NFL international game felt at least sort of special. Two relatively popular teams would play in a rising but somewhat touched hub of football fandom. The whole week beforehand would be a massive, planned, celebratory party, with fans from all over traveling in to consume a tasty but not overwrought NFL appetizer. It was a nice change of pace compared to the regular week-to-week schedule on the Western side of the pond. Games like this were just a conduit toward a greater overall experience with football acting as just one stop. Sometimes that's what keeps a long 17-game season interesting.
These days, the international schedule is just another brazen device for the NFL to oversaturate itself into people's lives. And when it doesn't even offer already-exhausted players an automatic bye week after all that travel and jet lag (no matter where they go), you start to understand why someone in Watt's position would take the very idea of it to task. It's complete nonsense driven by customary NFL greed, trusting that fans will attend or watch no matter the context because of a passive, acceptive "it's football, what else are you gonna do?" ingrained mindset, while asking players to unreasonably somehow give even more of themselves.
Watt is right. The international schedule isn't a welcome showcase. It is, indeed, a traveling circus that doesn't value or protect its valuable performers nearly enough.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: J.J. Watt ripped NFL international schedule with funny criticism
Q&A
What did J.J. Watt say about the NFL's international schedule for 2026?
J.J. Watt lambasted the NFL's expanded international schedule, stating that it places excessive demands on players and is unrealistic.
How many games will be included in the NFL's 2026 international schedule?
The NFL's 2026 international schedule will feature nine games across seven cities around the world.
Which cities will host NFL games in the 2026 international schedule?
The 2026 international schedule will include games in cities like London, Mexico City, Australia, and Munich.
