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Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest impacts NFL's 18-game season plans

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 14, 2026, 9:30 AM

Last updated Oct 14, 2026

Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest impacts NFL's 18-game season plans
Summary

Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest during a Week 17 game in the 2023 NFL season may have resulted in the NFL canceling plans for an 18-game season. ESPN analyst Chris Berman stated that discussions about the proposal became inappropriate following the incident, which left players visibly shaken. Berman suggested that this situation has likely halted any immediate push for the expanded schedule. The NFL and the NFLPA have yet to respond to these comments from Berman, raising questions about future discussions around game expansion.

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Key Details
  • •Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during a game against the Bengals.
  • •Berman believes the incident led to the cancellation of the 18-game season proposal.
  • •Players felt the push for more games could be seen as prioritizing profit over safety.
  • •The NFL has not commented on Berman's statements regarding the season format.
Latest Updates
  • 9:30 AMYahoo Sports — ESPN analyst suggests Damar Hamlin’s 2023 cardiac arrest ended NFL’s push for 18-game seasons
What they're saying
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Damar Hamlin’s terrifying cardiac arrest during the 2023 NFL season may have led to the NFL scrapping a possible 18-game season. Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest in a Week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals during Monday Night Football, after completing a tough tackle on WR Tee Higgins.

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Cincinnati BengalsNFLFootball

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