Follow the 2026-27 NFL cycle from training camp and kickoff through the playoffs, free agency, the Combine, Draft and spring programs.
Current phase
Final contract deadlines arrive as rookies and veterans report for training camp.
As of 2026-07-12 JST
Next milestone
Jul 15, 2026
Select a marked date to reveal its events.
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Jul 15, 2026
By 4 p.m. ET, clubs must complete multi-year deals with designated players. All four 2026 tag recipients have signed their tenders; Pitts, Hall and Jones subsequently completed extensions, leaving only Pickens without a long-term deal.
The 2026 tag class is effectively settled
All four players signed their tenders. Extensions replaced the one-year tag deals for Pitts, Hall and Jones; Pickens is the only player expected to play 2026 on the tag.
Jul 15, 2026
By 4 p.m. ET, clubs must complete multi-year deals with designated players. All four 2026 tag recipients have signed their tenders; Pitts, Hall and Jones subsequently completed extensions, leaving only Pickens without a long-term deal.
Jul 22, 2026 – Jul 28
Veterans begin reporting on July 22, with all 32 clubs in camp by July 28. Rookies may report up to seven days before their club’s veteran date.
Aug 6, 2026
The Panthers and Cardinals open the preseason in Canton, giving young players and roster hopefuls their first live evaluation.
Aug 14, 2026 – Aug 16
Games run Aug. 14-16 in the United States. Playing time centers on rookies, depth players and the first major roster battles.
U.S. dates: Aug. 14-16
Aug 21, 2026 – Aug 24
Games run Aug. 21-24 in the United States. For many clubs this is the clearest dress rehearsal for opening-week roles.
U.S. dates: Aug. 21-24
Aug 28, 2026 – Aug 30
The final games run Aug. 28-30 in the United States and provide the last audition for 53-player roster and practice-squad spots.
U.S. dates: Aug. 28-30
Aug 30, 2026
By 6 p.m. ET, clubs reduce their Active/Inactive Lists to 53 players and make accompanying reserve-list decisions.
Aug 31, 2026
Final-cutdown waiver claims expire at 1 p.m. ET. Clubs may then form 17-player practice squads when one qualifying international player is included.
Sep 9, 2026 – Sep 14
The season opens with Seahawks-Patriots on Sept. 9, followed by 49ers-Rams in Melbourne on Sept. 10 and the full kickoff slate.
Nov 10, 2026
Trading closes at 4 p.m. ET, concentrating contender upgrades and future-asset deals into one major deadline.
Jan 9, 2027 – Jan 10
Division titles, playoff seeds and the final postseason berths are settled in the regular-season finale.
Jan 16, 2027 – Jan 31
Wild Card Weekend is Jan. 16-18, the Divisional Round Jan. 23-24, and the conference championships Jan. 31.
Feb 14, 2027
The 2026 season champion is crowned at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Feb 17, 2027 – Mar 3
Clubs may retain negotiating control over key expiring players by applying a Franchise or Transition tag.
Mar 1, 2027 – Mar 8
Prospects complete measurements, medical checks, interviews and field drills in Indianapolis as draft boards take shape.
Mar 9, 2027 – Mar 11
Commonly called the “legal tampering” period, this window opens at noon ET on March 9. Clubs may negotiate with agents for prospective UFAs, but deals cannot be executed before 4 p.m. ET on March 11.
Mar 11, 2027
At 4 p.m. ET, the 2027 league year, free-agent signing period and trading period officially begin.
Apr 5, 2027 – Apr 19
Clubs with new head coaches may begin April 5; clubs with returning head coaches may begin April 19.
Apr 29, 2027 – May 1
The seven-round Draft takes place in Washington, D.C., with selections shaped by standings, trades and compensatory picks.
May 2, 2027
The final day for clubs to exercise 2028 fifth-year options on 2024 first-round picks. Once exercised, the fifth-year salary becomes fully guaranteed.
CBA deadline: before May 3 (final calendar day: May 2)
May 17, 2027
Draft picks and undrafted rookies begin adapting to professional practices, facilities and off-field expectations.
May 25, 2027 – Jun 30
The Spring League Meeting is May 25-26. Club-specific OTAs and mandatory minicamps continue through May and June ahead of camp.
This guide curates the official Important Dates into the milestones most useful for understanding the NFL year. Club-specific dates such as OTAs are summarized when no league-wide date applies.
Last updated: 2026-07-12