What are they thinking?

It took decades but they've now cut those six games in half. That's a good balance, I think.

A few more games means more money for the owners.
I clearly remember when basketball, baseball and football had their own distinct seasons. Baseball would have a few preseason games in late April, be up and in full swing by may, world series done by midseptember. Football would do their preseason the end of August, or beginning of September with a week or two overlap as baseball was wrapping up, be in full swing by the end of September, and super bowl was done by the end of January. Basketball was in those few months between January and April, and done by the time baseball was gearing up.
Now? Baseball stretches out from March to October, Football seems to go from July until February, and Basketball seems to be all year round.
And the ticket prices! yikes!

Let alone ending by mid Sept. Even before the 162 game schedule. Is that true? I can’t speak to pre-1960s. And even then.

Traditionally, during the 154 game season, the regular season began in mid April, and ended on the last weekend in September or the first couple of days in October, depending on how the calendar was situated. When the 162 game season came in, the season start was pushed up to early April, but ended at the same time as always.

It being late September. I also remember Super Bowl being in January, not February.

who played in the NFL for eight years. He told me that at the end of his career, he was thirty years old but felt like he was going on eighty.