Here is an overview of important NFL dates for 2026. All times are Eastern and all dates are subject to change.

January

January 5

Clubs may begin signing free agent players for the 2026 season, including players from the CFL.

Earliest permissible date for clubs to renegotiate or extend the rookie contract of a drafted rookie who was selected in any round of the 2023 NFL Draft or any undrafted rookie who signed in 2024. Any permissible renegotiated or extended player contract will not be considered a rookie contract and will not be subject to the rules that limit rookie contracts.

Clubs may exercise fifth-year options for players selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Early deadline for college players who are underclassmen to apply for Special Eligibility. A preliminary list of underclassmen who have been approved for entry into the 2026 NFL Draft will be sent to clubs on January 6. (Tentative)

January 7

Beginning at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the Wednesday following the final regular season weekend, rosters are frozen for clubs participating in the postseason with limited exceptions.

January 10-12

Wild Card Weekend

January 14 (Tentative)

Deadline for college players who are underclassmen to apply for Special Eligibility. A list of underclassmen who have been approved for entry into the 2026 NFL Draft will be sent to clubs on January 15.

January 17-18

Divisional Playoffs

January 23 (Tentative)

Deadline for college players who played in the National Championship game who are underclassmen to apply for Special Eligibility. A final list of underclassmen who have been approved for entry into the 2026 NFL Draft will be sent to clubs on January 24.

January 25

AFC and NFC Championship Games

February

February 8

Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, California)

February 17

Beginning this date through 4:00 p.m., New York time on March 3, clubs may designate Franchise or Transition Players

February 23 - March 2

NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, Indiana)

March

Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players

March 9-11

During the period beginning at 12:00 noon, New York time, on March 9 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 11, clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents upon the expiration of their 2025 player contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 11.

During the two-day negotiation period prior to the start of the 2026 League Year, each club may conduct one video or phone call for no longer than one hour with no more than five (5) prospective unrestricted free agents. The player's agent must be a participant of the call.

No prospective unrestricted free agent is permitted to execute a contract with a new club until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 11.

March 11

The 2026 League Year and free agency signing period begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time.

Trading period for 2026 begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time, after expiration of all 2025 contracts.

The first day of the 2026 League Year will end at 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 11. Clubs will receive a Personnel Notice that will include all transactions submitted to the league office during the period between 4:00 p.m., New York time, and 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 11.

March 29-April 1

Annual League Meeting (Phoenix, Arizona)

April

April 6

Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2025 regular season may begin offseason workout programs.

April 15

Deadline for clubs to time, test, visit, interview or conduct a physical examination with a draft eligible player at its club facility.

April 17

Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.

April 20

Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.

April 22

Deadline for prior club to exercise right of first refusal to restricted free agents who signed offer sheets.

Deadline for clubs to time, test, visit, interview (including video and phone calls) or conduct a physical examination with a draft-eligible player at any location.

April 23-25

NFL Draft (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania).

May

May 1

Deadline for clubs to exercise fifth-year option for players selected in the first round of the 2023 Draft.

May 1-4 or May 8-11

Clubs may elect to hold their one three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday on one of the two weekends following the Draft.

May 11

Rookie Football Development Programs begin.

May 13-17

NFLPA Rookie Premiere, Los Angeles, Cali.

May 19-20

Spring League Meeting, Orlando, Fla.

June

June 1

Deadline for prior club to send "June 1 Tender" to its unsigned restricted free agents who received a qualifying offer for a right of first refusal only for such player to be subject to the CBA's "June 15 Tender" provision.

June 15

Deadline for club to withdraw higher qualifying offer to restricted free agents and still retain exclusive negotiating rights by substituting lower "June 15 Tender" of one-year contract at 110 percent of the player's prior-year Paragraph 5 Salary (with all other terms of his prior-year contract carried forward unchanged).

Late June

Rookie Readiness Program to be held at individual clubs.

July

July 15

At 4:00 p.m. ET, deadline for any club that designated a Franchise Player to sign such player to a multiyear contract or extension. After this date, the player may sign only a one-year contract with his prior club for the 2026 season, and such contract cannot be extended until after the club's last regular season game.

Mid-July

Clubs are permitted to open preseason training camp for rookies (defined as a player who has never signed an NFL player contract with a club in a prior league year) beginning seven days prior to the club's mandatory reporting date for veteran players.

Clubs may require first-year players (defined as a player who signed an NFL player contract with any club in a prior league year, but who does not have a pension-credited season) to report on the designated reporting date for all rookies, or at any time thereafter, including, but not limited to, the designated reporting date for veteran quarterbacks and injured players, or the designated reporting date for all other veteran players.

Veteran quarterbacks and "injured players" (as defined in CBA Article 21, Section 6) may be required to report to the club's preseason training camp no earlier than five days immediately prior to the mandatory reporting date for all other veteran players, provided the club has already opened (or simultaneously opens) its official preseason training camp for all rookies. At 4:00 p.m. ET, signing period ends for Transition Players with outstanding tenders. After this date and until 4:00 p.m. ET, on the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, prior club has exclusive negotiating rights.

July 22

At 4:00 p.m. ET, on July 22 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp whichever is later) signing period ends for unrestricted free agents to whom a "UFA Tender" was made by prior club. After this date and until 4:00 p.m. ET, on the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, prior club has exclusive negotiating rights.