Aaron Rodgers hints NFL owners shut down original plans for International Week to avoid spending

Aaron Rodgers claimed that NFL team owners previously rejected plans for a full International Week during Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations to avoid additional spending. Speaking ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers' matchup against the New Orleans Saints in Paris, Rodgers revealed discussions once included playing 16 games across global locations alongside two bye weeks, but owners prioritized a 17th regular-season game for extra revenue instead.

Rodgers criticized the owners' reluctance to invest in global expansion and mandated early travel for overseas games, sarcastically questioning their commitment to player safety. He suggested viable future international destinations could include Canada, Mexico, South American nations, Europe, and Dubai.