in april 2016, the league's commissioner don garber reiterated the intention of the league to expand to 28 teams, with the next round of expansion "likely happening in 2020". in december 2016, he updated the expansion plans stating that the league will look to approve the 25th and 26th teams in 2017 and to start play in 2020. in january 2017, the league received bids from 12 ownership groups.