Here is an overview of important NFL dates for the 2025 league year. All times are EST, and all dates are subject to change.
2025–2026 Important NFL Dates
- June 2, 2025: Deadline for clubs to send “June 1 Tender” to unsigned restricted free agents with prior-year contracts expiring.
- June 16, 2025: Deadline for clubs to withdraw higher qualifying offers to restricted free agents and retain exclusive negotiating rights by extending a one-year offer at 110% of the prior year’s salary.
- Late June 2025: Rookie Readiness Program held at individual clubs for selected rookies.
- July 15, 2025 (4:00 PM ET): Deadline for any club that designated a Franchise Player to sign them to a multi-year contract or extension. After this date, the player may only sign a one-year deal with that club for the 2025 season.
- Mid-July 2025: Clubs are permitted to open training camp for rookies beginning 7 days before the club’s earliest permissible mandatory reporting date for veteran players.
- July 22, 2025: Signing deadline for unrestricted free agents who received the “UFA Tender” from their prior club. If still unsigned by this date, those players are prohibited from signing with any club (other than their prior club) until after the 2025 regular season.
- August 1, 2025: Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.
- August 3–4, 2025: Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend.
- August 27, 2025: Prior to 4:00 PM ET, clubs must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players on the Active/Inactive List.
- August 28, 2025: Waiver claim period for players waived during final roster cuts ends at 12:00 PM ET. Clubs may establish a 16-player practice squad.
- September 4, 2025: Kickoff of the 2025 NFL Regular Season.
- October 29, 2025: Trade Deadline (4:00 PM ET) — Deadline for clubs to execute trades.
- January 4, 2026: End of the 2025 NFL Regular Season.
- January 10–12, 2026: Wild Card Playoff Round.
- January 17–18, 2026: Divisional Playoff Round.
- January 25, 2026: AFC and NFC Championship Games.
- February 1, 2026: Pro Bowl Games.
- February 8, 2026: Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
- February 17, 2026: First day for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
- March 10, 2026 (4:00 PM ET): Deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
- March 16–18, 2026: Legal tampering window opens — clubs may contact unrestricted free agents from other teams ahead of the official new league year.
- March 18, 2026 (4:00 PM ET): 2026 League Year begins. Free agency opens, trades may be executed, and all clubs must be under the salary cap.
All information via NFL Operations.
