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Super Bowl champion head coach Tony Dungy took issue with the NFL’s scheduling of its playoff games in the Divisional Round.
NFL fans were anxiously awaiting the outcome of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans game on Monday night, with the winner going on the road to face the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Two Divisional Round games will be played on Saturday and another two on Sunday. Both conference championship games are played the following Sunday.
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Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts reacts after allowing 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.
“The NFL playoff schedule is not fair. It may produce good ratings, but it is not fair,” he wrote on
“In the AFC, the Bills will have to travel to Denver on a short week. Why? Because there is an AFC wild card game on Monday night. The Texans play Pittsburgh. The winner will automatically have a short week and travel to New England. Why?”
Dungy noted that Monday night games will not take place in Week 18 because of the problems they could create for a potential playoff team.
Josh Hines-Allen of the Jacksonville Jaguars sacks Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills during 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 matchups took place on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
“Several years ago, the league eliminated 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 created 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 get the same bye. Don’t force San Francisco, Buffalo and Houston or Pittsburgh to play the biggest game of their season in a short week just for TV ratings. That’s not fair!”
Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass during the second quarter of the NFC Wild Card playoff game 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 surely come up in the offseason as the NFL may push to hold another game in the regular season and delay the Super Bowl.
