Key Dates On 2025-26 NFL Calendar

The NFL recently announced important dates for the remainder of 2025 on through the 2026 offseason. Here are some dates to file away during these periods:

Key dates remaining on the 2025 NFL calendar:

• August 5: Window to trade an unsigned rookie draftee closes
• August 26: Teams can stash two players on IR before finalizing their 53-man roster
• August 26: By 3pm CT, clubs must reduce rosters from 90 to 53 players
• August 27: Post-cutdown waiver claims due at 11am CT
• August 27: Teams can begin setting practice squads
• September 23: Waiver priority shifts from teams’ 2024 record to their 2025 record
• September 26-29: Teams can begin designating players placed on IR, NFI and PUP lists for return
• October 21-22: Fall league meetings
• November 4: Trade deadline set for 3pm CT
• November 5: Vested veterans (if cut) become subject to waivers

Key dates for the 2026 offseason:

• January 5: Players chosen in 2023 draft can begin negotiating extensions
• February 17-March 3: Franchise and transition tag application window
• March 9-11: Legal tampering period
• March 11: 2026 league year begins at 3pm CT
• March 29-April 1: Spring league meetings
• April 6: Teams that hired new head coaches can begin offseason programs
• April 20: Clubs with returning HCs can begin offseason work
• April 23-25: 2026 NFL Draft

If Shemar Stewart is unsigned beyond August 5, the Bengals cannot trade him until the 2026 draft. Stewart signing his rookie deal by August 5 would allow for a trade. The same goes for any of the unsigned second-rounders — and there are many — in this year’s draft class.

This offseason did not feature changes to the IR system like 2022 and 2024 brought. The league is sticking with the 2024 change allowing teams to designate up to two players as IR-return options before setting their initial 53-man rosters August 26. Players given this August designation will count against teams’ eight-activation limit during the regular season. Those players will not be eligible to practice until Week 5.

The NFL trade deadline, which resided on the Tuesday following Week 8 from 2012-23, again will sit on the day after Week 9 concludes. Players cut following the trade deadline must hit waivers; anyone vested veterans released before that point pass straight to free agency.