Dates to Know
February 17: Beginning this date through 4 p.m. ET on March 3, clubs may designate Franchise or Transition Players
February 23 - March 2: NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, Indiana)
March 3: Prior to 4 p.m., deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players
March 9-11: During the period beginning at noon on March 9 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. 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 2025 player contracts at 4 p.m. on March 11.
During the two-day negotiation period prior to the start of the 2026 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 p.m. on March 11.
March 11: The 2026 League Year and free agency signing period begins at 4 p.m.
Trading period for 2026 begins at 4 p.m. after expiration of all 2025 contracts.
The first day of the 2026 League Year will end at 11:59:59 p.m. on March 11. Clubs will receive a Personnel Notice that will include all transactions submitted to the league office during the period between 4 p.m. and 11:59:59 p.m. on March 11.
April 6: Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2025 regular season may begin offseason workout programs.
April 17: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.
April 22: Deadline for prior club to exercise right of first refusal to restricted free agents who signed offer sheets.
April 23-25: NFL Draft (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania).
May 1: Deadline for clubs to exercise fifth-year option for players selected in the first round of the 2023 Draft.
June 1: Deadline for prior club to send "June 1 Tender" to its unsigned restricted free agents who received a qualifying offer for a right of first refusal only for such player to be subject to the CBA's "June 15 Tender" provision.
June 15: Deadline for club to withdraw higher qualifying offer to restricted free agents and still retain exclusive negotiating rights by substituting lower "June 15 Tender" of one-year contract at 110 percent of the player's prior-year Paragraph 5 Salary (with all other terms of his prior-year contract carried forward unchanged).
July 15: At 4 p.m., deadline for any club that designated a Franchise Player to sign such player to a multiyear contract or extension. After this date, the player may sign only a one-year contract with his prior club for the 2026 season, and such contract cannot be extended until after the club's last regular season game.