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Super Bowl champion head coach Tony Dungy took issue with the NFL’s scheduling of its divisional playoff games.
NFL fans eagerly awaited the outcome of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans game on Monday night, with the winner heading to the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Two divisional rounds are played on Saturday and two others on Sunday. Both conference championship games will be played the following Sunday.
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Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts reacts after giving up a first quarter touchdown to the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI on February 4, 2007 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Dungy wrote on social media that the schedule was unfair.
“NFL playoff scheduling isn’t fair. It might make for good ratings, but it isn’t fair,” he wrote on X. “This end of the season, recovery time is crucial and it’s not given equally. Rams & Bears played Saturday games. They’ll face each other on Sunday with an extra day of rest. 49ers played Sunday and will face Seattle on Saturday short recovery week. Why?
“In the AFC, the Bills will have to travel to Denver on a short week. Why? Because there is an AFC Wild Card game Monday night. The Texans play Pittsburgh. The winner will automatically have a short week and travel to New England. Why?”
Dungy pointed out that Monday night games won’t happen in Week 18 because of the problems it could create for a potential playoff team.
Josh Hines-Allen of the Jacksonville Jaguars sacks Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills in the third quarter of the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at EverBank Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
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However, the Wild Card Round matches were held on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
“Several years ago, the league did away with Monday Night games in Week 18 of the regular season because it created a disadvantage if one of those teams made the playoffs. Now we’re creating that disadvantage,” Dungy added.
“The Wild Card round should be 3 games on Saturday and 3 games on Sunday. Then try to schedule the divisional games so the teams have equal rest. Don’t force San Francisco, Buffalo and Houston or Pittsburgh to play the most important game of their season in a short week just for TV ratings. It’s not fair!”
Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass in the second quarter of the NFC Wild Card playoffs against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
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Player safety will certainly come up in the offseason, as the NFL could push for another game in the regular season and push back the Super Bowl.
