The NFL is a major part of American culture. It holds significant influence beyond traditional media and cultural consumption. The league has even claimed a day of the week, with millions of fans observing Sundays as if it were a religious experience.

However, the issue lies in the fact that the NFL is extremely self-aware. It knows that its influence can lead football fans to consume anything it puts out.

A recent report from the Boston Globe highlights the NFL’s plans for expansion. The league aims to host games in Brazil, France, Australia, and Ghana, with all 32 teams expected to play games outside of the United States at least every other year. This is in addition to the NFL making Christmas, Black Friday, and Saturdays a part of its football schedule. The league also dedicates a significant amount of time to promoting the draft season, all in an effort to dominate American television.

The main concern here is the league’s desire to expand its broadcast reach. The NFL is looking to implement regular Monday night doubleheaders and potentially have two Monday night games every week, starting as early as 2024.

The NFL believes that fans will watch any football game, even if it involves backup quarterbacks struggling to complete passes, as long as it is part of a national television audience at night. This business model is spreading to Thursday nights as well.

NFL executive VP, Brian Rolapp, has expressed that the league likes the idea of providing more football for fans, potentially leading to a larger audience.

While the NFL sees this as a success, some argue that this oversaturation of football is not a positive development for the sport. The appeal of professional football was in enjoying it in moderation and ascribing meaning to a competitive regular season followed by the playoffs. However, with football on television at least three times a week, it is losing that appeal.

The NFL’s true oversaturation moment has arrived, positioning it as a central fixture of American culture, feeding audiences an abundance of football, whether they want it or not.