2024-25 Important NFL Dates: A Comprehensive Guide

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2024-25 Important NFL Dates

The NFL season is a highly anticipated event for fans around the world, and the 2024-25 season promises to be no different. To ensure you don’t miss a single moment of the action, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to all the crucial dates, from the Hall of Fame Game to Super Bowl LIX.

August

August 1: Kick off the season with the Hall of Fame Game, featuring the Houston Texans and the Chicago Bears at Tom Benson HOF Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
August 1-4: Immerse yourself in the celebration of football legends during the Hall of Fame Weekend in Canton, Ohio.
August 6: The deadline for drafted rookies to sign with their respective clubs. After this date, unsigned rookies cannot be traded in 2024 and can only sign with the team that drafted them.
August 8-11: Get your first glimpse of the upcoming season during the first preseason weekend.
August 15-18: The excitement continues with the second preseason weekend.
August 22-25: The third preseason weekend, marking the final opportunity for teams to evaluate players before the regular season commences.
August 27: Roster cutdown day, as teams reduce their rosters to a maximum of 53 players.
August 28: The waiver claiming period for players released during the final roster reduction ends. Teams finalize their practice squads.

September

September 1: The curtain falls on preseason training camp.
September 2-7: Teams begin filing their practice and game status reports.
September 5, 6, 8-9: The regular season kicks off!
September 6: International fans are in for a treat as the Green Bay Packers face off against the Philadelphia Eagles at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil.
September 27, 30, October 1: Teams can begin practicing players on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform and Reserve/Non-Football Injury or Illness lists.

October

October 6: London calls! The New York Jets take on the Minnesota Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
October 13: Another exciting matchup in London as the Jacksonville Jaguars face the Chicago Bears at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
October 15: Deadline for players to file for the 2024 Injury Protection benefit.
October 15-16: The Fall League Meeting takes place in Atlanta, Georgia.
October 20: London hosts its final game of the season as the New England Patriots battle the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium.

November

November 5: The trade deadline for 2024.
November 6: Players with four or more pension-credited seasons become subject to the waiver system.
November 10: Munich, Germany, welcomes the NFL as the New York Giants face off against the Carolina Panthers at Allianz Arena.
November 12: A pivotal date for Franchise and Transition Players as deadlines for signing and tender offers come into play.

December

December 10-11: The NFL holds a special league meeting and Front Office Accelerator in Irving, Texas.

January

January 6: The dawn of a new league year approaches as teams can begin signing free agents for the 2025 season.
January 8: Playoff rosters are frozen.
January 11-13: Super Wild Card Weekend kicks off the postseason.
Mid-January (Tentative): Deadline for underclassmen college players to declare for the NFL Draft.
January 18-19: The Divisional Playoff Games, where only the strongest contenders remain.
January 20: College football crowns its champion at the NCAA National Championship Game in Atlanta, Georgia.
January 26: The Conference Championships, with the winners punching their tickets to the Super Bowl.
January 30: The East-West Shrine Bowl, a showcase for top college prospects.

February

February 1: The Senior Bowl, another opportunity for draft hopefuls to shine, takes place in Mobile, Alabama.
February 2: The Pro Bowl Games, a celebration of the best players in the NFL.
February 9: Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana – the pinnacle of the NFL season.
February 18: Teams can begin designating Franchise or Transition Players.
February 24 – March 3: The NFL Scouting Combine, where draft prospects undergo rigorous physical and mental testing.

March

March 4: Deadline for Franchise or Transition Player designations.
March 10-12: The legal tampering period, where teams can negotiate with agents of impending free agents.
March 12: The 2025 League Year and free agency period officially begin! The new league year brings fresh starts and exciting possibilities for all 32 teams.
March 30-April 2: The Annual League Meeting in Palm Beach, Florida.

April

April 7: Teams with new head coaches can begin their offseason workout programs.
April 16: Deadline for teams to conduct pre-draft visits with prospects.
April 18: Deadline for Restricted Free Agents to sign offer sheets.
April 21: Teams with returning head coaches can begin their offseason workout programs.
April 23: Deadline for teams to exercise their Right of First Refusal on Restricted Free Agents.
April 24-26: The NFL Draft, where dreams become reality for college prospects, unfolds in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

May

May 1: Deadline for teams to exercise Fifth-Year Options on players from the 2022 Draft class.
May 2-5 or May 9-12: Teams can hold their post-draft rookie minicamps.
May 12: Rookie Football Development Programs commence.
May 20-21: The Spring League Meeting and Coach Accelerator in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The 2024-25 NFL season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet. With a jam-packed schedule of games, events, and milestones, there’s something for every football fan to look forward to. Mark your calendars, and get ready to experience the thrill of the NFL!