Wednesday will mark the release of the NFL’s 2025 schedule, but a big change is set to be made at the league’s headquarters afterwards.
Howard Katz, the NFL’s senior vice president of broadcasting and media operations, has overseen the league’s matchup-making for over 20 years.
But after the latest round of matchups come out for all 32 teams, the 75-year-old will be retiring, as he told The Athletic.
Katz, who was recognized by commissioner Roger Goodell at the league’s annual meeting this year, will reportedly have his duties assumed by executive vice president of media distribution Hans Schroeder.
Katz’s team of schedule-makers are said to use 200 to 300 computers to aid their process (a huge increase from the one or two that were used initially).
The computers are input with rules for the schedule to abide by, such as avoiding a three-game road trip, but the decision-making ultimately lies with Katz as he continually repeats the process and makes adjustments.
Howard Katz, the NFL’s senior VP of broadcasting and media operations, will retire this week
The NFL’s full schedule release will come on Wednesday, though some dates have been announced
Katz told The Athletic that he receives a bevvy of personal scheduling requests, asking him to plan around weddings, bar mitzvahs and more.
He also recalled the Pope’s visit to Philadelphia in 2015 shaking up the Eagles schedule that year, while concerts in the same city as a team can also affect scheduling.
While the schedule has yet to be released in full, the NFL began releasing details on Monday, announcing that the season would begin with the Super Bowl-champion Eagles hosting the Cowboys.
On Tuesday, the league also released its international slate, which features a record seven games this season.
The Chargers will face a yet-to-be announced team in Sao Paulo, the Vikings will play in Dublin against the Steelers, and then against the Browns next week in London.
There will also be Broncos-Jets and Rams-Jaguars matchups in the English capital, while the Colts and Falcons will play in Berlin.
The Dolphins and Commanders will also play the first NFL game in Madrid on November 16.
