Skip to main content

NFL Key Dates for 2025-26 Season: When is the NFL Schedule Release?

C Jackson Cowart

Last Updated: April 25, 2025 6:51 PM EDT • 2 min 60 sec read.

2025-26 NFL Schedule & Offseason Key Dates: When is the NFL Schedule Release?
Pictured: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) against the Philadelphia Eagles. Photo by Mark J. Rebilas / Imagn Images.

The NFL schedule release is only a few weeks away, and we're looking ahead to the 2025-26 NFL schedule and offseason key dates with the draft underway.

We've already seen plenty of roster movement this offseason after free agency in March, headlined by quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Geno Smith inking long-term deals with new teams and the Washington Commanders loading up via the trade market.

Those moves weren't enough to dislodge the Philadelphia Eagles - who will likely open the NFL schedule with the annual kickoff game as Super Bowl champions - as the favorites by the Super Bowl odds over the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs.

🤔 When will the 2025-26 NFL schedule be released?

The NFL schedule will be released on Wednesday, May 14, at 8 p.m. ET. The schedule release will be televised live on NFL Network and ESPN2.

The schedule is annually released in mid-May and serves as the first look for all 32 fan bases at when they'll face their division rivals, how to schedule their holiday plans, and when their team will enjoy their bye week.

2025-26 NFL Schedule & Offseason Key Dates
Pictured: Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) rushes the ball. Photo by Kirby Lee / Imagn Images.

📅 NFL offseason key dates & deadlines

Here's an updated look of the full NFL offseason key dates and deadlines as we await the NFL schedule release:

  • Feb. 18: Teams can designate franchise / transition tags
  • Feb. 24 - March 3: NFL Scouting Combine
  • March 4: Deadline for franchise tag
  • March 10-12: Free agency negotiation period
  • March 12: Free agency and trading period (1st day of league year)
  • March 30 - April 2: Annual league meeting
  • April 7: Offseason workouts begin for teams with new head coaches
  • April 18: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets
  • April 21: Offseason workouts begin for teams with returning head coaches
  • April 24-26: NFL rookie draft
  • May 1: Deadline to exercise fifth-year options
  • May 2-5 or May 9-12: Rookie minicamps
  • July 15: Deadline to sign extension for franchise tag players
  • Mid-July: Training camps

💪 When are NFL training camps?

Teams will announce their specific training camp schedules as we get into the summer, though we can expect all training camps to begin sometime in mid-July. Last year, the NFL announced training camp dates on June 18, and they were all scheduled to begin between July 13 and July 24.

1️⃣ When is NFL Week 1 2025?

The 2025 NFL regular season is scheduled to begin on Sept. 4, 2025. Traditionally, the defending Super Bowl champions open the season as hosts for a Thursday night kickoff game, so expect this year's game to be in Philadelphia.

The first Sunday of the 2025 NFL season is scheduled for Sept. 7, while the Monday Night Football season opener will be on Sept. 8.

2025-26 NFL Schedule & Offseason Key Dates
Pictured: Detroit Lions players celebrate their NFL Thanksgiving win. Photo by Kimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

🦃 When are NFL Thanksgiving games?

The annual NFL Thanksgiving games will take place on Thursday, Nov. 27, and will likely feature three games - two of which will include the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions, who traditionally play every year on the holiday.

🆚 When do the 2025-26 NFL playoffs start?

The 2025-26 NFL playoffs will start on Saturday, Jan. 10, with the wild-card round likely lasting through Monday, Jan. 12. That will come before the NFL Divisional Round on Jan. 18-19 and the NFL Conference Championships on Sunday, Jan. 26.

🏆 When is the 2026 Super Bowl?

The 2026 Super Bowl is on Feb. 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. We don't know the Super Bowl 60 matchup yet, though the Eagles and Ravens are the betting favorites to win the NFC and AFC, respectively.

  • Date: Sunday, Feb. 8
  • Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, Calif.)
  • Favorite: Eagles (+650 via FanDuel)
  • TV: NBC

❓ 2025-26 NFL schedule FAQs

📅 When does the 2025-26 season start?

The 2025 NFL season will start on Sept. 4, 2025. The Eagles will likely host that Thursday night NFL kickoff game.

📅 When do the 2025-26 NFL playoffs start?

The 2025-26 NFL playoffs will start with the wild-card round on Saturday, Jan. 10.

📅 When is the 2026 Super Bowl?

The 2026 Super Bowl is on Feb. 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. 

💵 Best NFL betting sites

Ready to bet on the NFL this season? Check out our best NFL betting sites and the best sportsbook promos for the NFL season:

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Not intended for use in MA.
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.

Written By:
C Jackson Cowart
C Jackson Cowart is a publishing editor and lead writer for Sportsbook Review. An award-winning writer, reporter, and editor with a decade of sports media experience, "C-Jax" has worked with ESPN, Forbes, theScore, and various daily newspapers before joining the Sportsbook Review team. He's a proud graduate of the University of North Carolina, where he served as a beat writer for the Tar Heels' championship run through the NCAA men's basketball tournament in 2017. Jackson has spent the last five years covering sports betting as a predictive analyst, features writer, and industry reporter. Since joining the team in 2023, he's played a key role in Sportsbook Review's coverage of the Super Bowl, March Madness, and NBA playoffs while serving as the lead writer for the growing WNBA and NASCAR betting scenes. Though he's cashed some big bets over the years -- including Lamar Jackson to win MVP (twice) -- he's still haunted by enough second-place bet slips to wallpaper his home office. While Jackson is a committed "process over results" bettor with a keen eye for advanced stats and subtle bias in futures markets, he also embraces sports betting as a vehicle for entertainment and personal investment. He's written about everything from hot dogs to groundhogs and still hasn't forgiven his "inside source" for a sabotaged bet on the Gatorade color in Super Bowl LV.