NFL Relegation Idea

lightsout · September 29, 2024

So nobody likes seeing their franchise languish and nobody likes watching the Titans play teams like the Chiefs. How does the league address lazy owners who don't take steps to fix their teams? How do you incentivize players on shitty teams to give effort? Soccer figured this out long ago. A Relegation system. A friend of mine and I already hashed it out.

Playoff system remains the same. The NFL itself gets cut to 20 teams though. Those 20 battle it out for the 12 slots. What of the other 12?

Division 2.

The 12 Division 2 teams have their own season and playoff consisting of 6 teams. The Championship game in Division 2 gets high draft pick, the runner up and next ranked team get the next 2 picks with the remaining 9 doing a lottery system.

So how does one get relegated to Division 2?

The bottom 3 NFL teams are relegated as the season ends. The top 3 Division 2 teams replace them.

So how does the draft function?

You have two real options.

1) Division 2 champion gets the number one pick in the draft. It's their reward for being the best of the bad teams and encourages them to play hard so their team gets their pick of the next draft.

2) Division 2 champion gets the 4th pick. This means your too 3 picks go to relegated teams where they get to rebuild with their newfound talent and earn their way back to contention in the NFL while your Div 2 champion takes their 4th pick to the league.

In either case, after all the Div 2 teams draft, the league resumes their usual order of worst teams pick first.

I think this adds a layer of urgency and thoughtfulness to owners. You don't want to field good teams? Well you're going to have to prove yourself or your team is going to be stuck in Division 2 forever.

Edited September 29, 2024 by lightsout