What You Need to Know About the 2023 NFL Schedule Release

Also in Traina Thoughts: Nikola Jokic is brutally honest; Jason and Travis Kelce really love Andy Reid; props to Dick Vitale; and much more.

1. The full, 272-game NFL schedule will get released Thursday, but the league has already started to reveal some of the big games for the upcoming season.

Before we get to that, let me tell you some things you need to know about this year’s schedule.

• ESPN will get three Monday night doubleheaders this season. Technically, they’re not “doubleheaders,” because they will overlap with games starting, for example at 7 p.m. ET and 8:30 p.m. ET, but you get the idea. Three Mondays during the regular season will feature two games at night, with one airing on ABC and the other airing on ESPN. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will have the call for one game, while Chris Fowler will handle play-by-play for the secondary game.

• ESPN will get flex scheduling for the first time for Monday Night Football for Weeks 12 through 17.

• Teams can now be featured on Amazon Prime's Thursday Night Football schedule twice during the regular season. In past years, teams were allowed only one TNF appearance.

• The league will have a triple-header on Christmas Day, Monday, Dec. 25, with the games airing on CBS, Fox and ESPN.

The NFL announced Wednesday morning that one of those Christmas Day games will be the Giants at the Eagles, which will be played at 4:25 p.m. and air on Fox.

It was also announced that the Dolphins will visit the Jets on Black Friday, Nov. 24. The game will kickoff at 3 p.m. ET and air exclusively on Amazon Prime.

The league also revealed that one of the more anticipated matchups this season, Bengals at Chiefs, will be played on New Year’s Eve, Sunday, Dec. 31, at 4:25 p.m. on CBS.

SI will keep you updated on any other leaks that come out with this schedule tracker.

2. The latest episode of Jason and Travis Kelce’s New Heights podcast features an interview with Andy Reid. Reid has coached both Kelce brothers, and it was clear that he means a lot to both of them, because they were downright giddy during the entire interview. The genuine affection both Kelces have for Reid was evident from start to finish. 

Reid was an excellent guest, sharing inside stories and busting Travis Kelce’s chops throughout.

Coaching against your old team in the Super Bowl can get confusing 😂😅

THE ANDY REID EPISODE PREMIERES NOW: https://t.co/IoPikZ4Pgq@JasonKelce @tkelce pic.twitter.com/twK2ipZrxF

— New Heights (@newheightshow) May 10, 2023

3. Kevin Durant ended up getting a technical foul in Tuesday’s playoff game against the Nuggets when he lightly pushed Nikola Jokić away from the Suns’ huddle during a timeout.

KD got a tech after pushing Jokic 👀 pic.twitter.com/KuKAWTOL8a

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 10, 2023

To his credit, after the game, Jokić didn't lie, and he admitted he was trying to see the play Phoenix was drawing up.

4. The Dodgers are visiting the Brewers this week, but outfielder Mookie Betts has chosen not to stay at the team’s hotel because of the long-standing rumor that it has ghosts.

Betts, who rented an Airbnb, told Orange County Register reporter Bill Plunkett, “You can tell me what happened after. I just don’t want to find out myself.”

5. I just want to give a shout-out to Dickie Vitale, who, year after year, does amazing charity work for the V Foundation. Last week the 18th annual Dick Vitale Gala raised a record $12.4 million for cancer research.

6. The latest SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast features an interview with the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Topics discussed include:

• Why he loves covering the NFL draft

• What NFL event causes him to get the least amount of sleep

• Thoughts about the 2023 NFL schedule release

• Competing with ESPN’s Adam Schefter

• Aaron Rodgers telling Pat McAfee that Rapoport “doesn't know s--- about him”

• Enjoying the Shams vs. Woj rivalry

• His favorite experience breaking a story

His biggest mistake breaking a story and much more.

Following Rapoport, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins me for our weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment. Topics covered include ESPN using old footage of the Twin Towers during an NBA playoff game, Aaron Rodgers embracing New York, Twitter life without a blue check and much more.

You can listen to the podcast below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Google.

You can also watch SI Media With Jimmy Traina on YouTube.

7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: Happy 68th birthday to the iconic Chris Berman. May your day be filled with du, du, dus.

Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out the SI Media With Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Google. You can also follow Jimmy on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.