NFL Calendar 2026-2027

September 9-10, 13- 14

NFL Kickoff Weekend

September 10

NFL International Game at Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne, Australia).
San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams

September 27

NFL International Game at Maracanã Stadium (Rio De Janeiro, Brazil).
Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys

September 29

Beginning on the day after the completion of the third regular season weekend, the claiming priority will be based on current standings, and ties will be broken based on current strength-ofschedule of the involved clubs. If ties still exist, they will be broken by strength-of-victory, point differential, and then by lot.

October 2, 5-6

Beginning on the day after a club’s fourth regular season game (including any bye week), it is permitted to activate players on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform and Reserve/NonFootball Injury or Illness (if the player failed his preseason physical due to a non-football injury or illness) prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time.

October 4

NFL International Game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium presented by NetApp (London, United Kingdom).
Indianapolis Colts vs. Washington Commanders

October 11

NFL International Game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium presented by NetApp (London, United Kingdom).
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

October 18

NFL International Game at Wembley Stadium presented by NetApp (London, United Kingdom).
Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars

October 20-21

Fall League Meeting (New York, New York)

October 25

NFL International Game at Stade de France presented by American Express (Paris, France).
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints

November 8

NFL International Game at Bernabéu Stadium presented by NetApp (Madrid, Spain).
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Atlanta Falcons

November 9

Any increase in a player’s 2026 salary from a renegotiation or extension that is received by the Management Council after 4:00 p.m., New York time, on this day, will be treated as signing bonus, and prorated over the entire term of the player contract, including 2026.

November 10

All trading ends for 2026 at 4:00 p.m., New York time.

November 11

Players with at least four previous pension-credited seasons are subject to the waiver system for the remainder of the regular season and postseason.

November 15

NFL International Game at FC Bayern Munich Arena (Munich, Germany)
New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions

November 17

At 4:00 p.m., New York time, signing period ends for Franchise Players who are eligible to receive offer sheets.

Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to sign their unsigned Franchise and Transition Players, including Franchise Players who were eligible to receive offer sheets until this date. If still unsigned after this date, such players are prohibited from playing in NFL in 2026.

Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to sign their unrestricted free agents to whom the “UFA Tender” was made. If still unsigned after this date, such players are prohibited from playing in NFL in 2026.

Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to sign their restricted free agents, including those to whom the “June 1 Tender” was made. If such players remain unsigned after this date, they are prohibited from playing in NFL in 2026.

November 22

NFL International Game at Estadio Banorte (Mexico City, Mexico).
Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers

December 9

Special League Meeting (Virtual)

2027

January 6 (tentative)
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 2027 NFL Draft will be sent to clubs on January 7.

January 9-10
Week 18 – Final NFL Weekend

January 11

During the period beginning the Monday following the final regular season weekend through the conclusion of the final postseason game, assignments of player contracts will be deferred until the first business day after the Super Bowl. Terminations of player contracts will occur at the expiration of the claiming period.

A club that is participating in the playoffs may sign players whose contracts have been terminated to its Active/Inactive List, Practice Squad (if applicable), or Reserve/Future List. A club whose playing season has concluded may sign such players to its Reserve/Future List only.

Clubs may begin signing free agent players for the 2027 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 2024 NFL Draft or any undrafted rookie who signed in 2025. 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 2024 NFL Draft.

January 13

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 13 (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 2027 NFL Draft will be sent to clubs on January 14.

January 16-18
Wild Card Weekend

January 23-24
Divisional Playoffs

January 29 (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 2027 NFL Draft will be sent to clubs on January 30.

January 30

The Panini Senior Bowl – Saturday, Jan 30 – Kickoff: 1:30pm CT
Mobile, Al. – University of South Alabama, Hancock Whitney Stadium

January 31
AFC and NFC Championship Games

February 14
Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California).

February 17

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

March 1-8
NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, Indiana).

March 3

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 2026 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 2027 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.

The 2027 League Year and free agency signing period begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time.

March 11
Trading period for 2027 begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time, after expiration of all 2026 contracts.

The first day of the 2027 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 21-24

Annual League Meeting (Phoenix, Arizona)

April 5

Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2026 regular season may begin offseason workout programs.

April 19

Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.

April 21

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

April 23

Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.

April 28

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.