FRISCO, Texas — Hold firm to the reality that Dallas Cowboys and NFL football are nearly arrived at your door. The month of June has commenced, and it marks the final one in which there will be no NFL contests played, as the official league calendar so pleasantly reminds us.
The league released the complete set of dates for the entire 2025-26 regular season, postseason and offseason on Thursday, as mandatory minicamps begin across the realm next week, and there are several key deadlines and events to draw a sizable red circle around.
Training camp dates will be provided soon, but as far as the league’s mandates go?
Have no fear, because they are here:
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Summer:
- July 31: Hall of Fame Game – Chargers v. Lions (Canton, OH)
- August 26: Deadline to reduce rosters to 53 players
- August 27: Deadline for waiver claims on players released in final cuts
- August 27: Clubs can begin forming 17-man practice squad
Fall:
- September 1: Clubs must begin filing injury, practice reports
- September 4-5, 7-8: Kickoff weekend
- October 21-22: Fall league meeting
- Nov. 4: Trade deadline
Winter:
- Dec. 9-10: Virtual league meeting
- Jan. 5: Existing free agents (not on expiring deals) can sign for 2026
- Jan. 10-12: Wild Card Weekend
- Jan. 17-18: Divisional Playoffs
- Jan. 25: AFC/NFC Championship Games
- Feb. 8: Super Bowl LX (Santa Clara, CA)
- Feb. 17: Franchise/transition tags can be applied
Spring:
- March 3: Deadline for franchise/transition tags to be applied
- March 9-11: Legal tampering begins
- March 11: Free agency signings officially begin
- March 29-April 1: Annual league meeting
- April 23-25: NFL Draft (Green Bay, WI)
