NFL Approves Thursday Night Football Flexible Scheduling Updates

The NFL approved “2023 RESOLUTION JC-6” which is a set of policy adjustments related to the NFL’s Thursday Night Football flexible scheduling. Here are the main points:

Introduction of Flexible Scheduling: This resolution proposes that the NFL should be able to change the timing of Sunday afternoon games in Weeks 13-17 to Thursday evenings, with a notice of at least 28 days. This means that originally scheduled Sunday games could be moved to Thursday nights for broadcasting reasons.

Expansion of “TBD” Scheduling Mechanism: The NFL can move games initially listed as “To Be Decided (TBD)” to Thursday nights. This replaces the original Thursday night game, which will then be moved to Sunday.

Counting Toward Appearance Limit: Any appearances on Thursday Night Football due to this flexible scheduling will count towards the existing limit of seven appearances per team per season.

Limitation on Schedule Changes: No team will be required to move from a Sunday afternoon game to a Thursday night game more than once per season. In addition, no team will be asked to play more than two games on Thursday night in total in any season.

Usage Limit of Flexible Scheduling: The NFL will apply this flexible scheduling to Thursday Night Football no more than two times in a season.

Trial Period: These rules are initially only in effect for the 2023 season. However, if the NFL does not apply flexible scheduling to Thursday Night Football during the 2023 regular season, these rules will remain in effect for the 2024 season.

In essence, this resolution gives the NFL more flexibility in scheduling games for the prime-time Thursday Night Football slot. It’s designed to balance the need for flexibility in scheduling while also considering fairness for the teams involved. Here is the full press release from the NFL Communications department:

2023 Resolution Proposal JC-6 Approved at Spring League Meeting

NFL clubs adopted the below resolution proposal today at the Spring League Meeting in Minnesota.

2023 RESOLUTION JC-6

Whereas, in 2023 Resolution JC-2 (as Amended) the membership approved a modified scheduling policy for short weeks in connection with the Thursday Night Football package; and

Whereas, given that Thursday Night Football is the only primetime package without flexible scheduling, the membership also wishes to apply flexible scheduling and/or “TBD” scheduling for Thursday Night Football on a trial basis; Be it

Resolved, that flexible scheduling is hereby expanded to Thursdays such that clubs may be required to switch Sunday afternoon regular season games, in Weeks 13-17, to approximately 8:15 p.m. ET on Thursday (and vice-versa) upon at least twenty-eight (28) days’ notice from the League Office; and Be it

Further Resolved, that the League’s late season “TBD” scheduling mechanism is hereby expanded to allow the League Office to designate games originally identified as “TBD” games to be played at approximately 8:15 p.m. ET on Thursday (in addition to Saturday, Sunday or Monday) in place of the originally scheduled Thursday night game (which shall be played on Sunday); and Be it

Further Resolved, that any club appearance on Thursday Night Football as a result of flexing or “TBD” scheduling will count toward the existing seven (7) appearance limit (as described in Section 4 of Exhibit A of 2021 Resolution M-1); and Be it

Further Resolved, that no club will be required by virtue of flexible scheduling to switch from Sunday afternoon to Thursday night on more than one (1) occasion, or to play more than two (2) games on Thursday night in total, in any season; and Be it

Further Resolved, that the League Office will apply flexible scheduling to Thursday Night Football no more than two (2) times in any season; and Be it

Further Resolved, that this Resolution will be in effect for the 2023 season only, unless flexible scheduling is not applied for Thursday Night Football during the 2023 regular season, in which case this Resolution shall remain in effect for the 2024 season.