2024-25 Key NFL Dates: A Comprehensive Guide

The NFL season is a highly anticipated event for fans worldwide. To keep you informed and prepared for all the action, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of key dates for the 2024-25 NFL season. From the Hall of Fame Game to Super Bowl LIX, this guide has you covered.

Page Contents

August 2024: Kicking Off the Excitement

August 1st: The Hall of Fame Game kicks off the preseason, featuring the Houston Texans and the Chicago Bears at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
August 1st-4th: The annual Hall of Fame Weekend takes place in Canton, Ohio, celebrating the history of the game and inducting new members into the prestigious Pro Football Hall of Fame.
August 6th: The deadline for drafted rookies to sign with their respective clubs.
August 8th-11th: The first preseason weekend sees teams face off in their initial warm-up games.
August 15th-18th: The second preseason weekend offers another opportunity for teams to assess their rosters and strategies.
August 22nd-25th: The third preseason weekend marks the final opportunity for players to make their case for a roster spot.
August 27th: Teams must reduce their rosters to a maximum of 53 players.
August 28th: The claiming period for players placed on waivers during the final roster reduction expires. Teams can begin forming their practice squads.

September 2024: The Regular Season Begins

September 1st: The final day of preseason training camp for all teams.
September 5th, 6th, 8th-9th: The first week of the regular season commences.
September 6th: An NFL International Game takes place at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil, featuring the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles.
September 27th, 30th, October 1st: Teams can begin practicing players on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform and Reserve/Non-Football Injury or Illness lists.

October 2024: International Games Take Center Stage

October 6th: The New York Jets take on the Minnesota Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, United Kingdom, for another exciting international game.
October 13th: The Jacksonville Jaguars face off against the Chicago Bears at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
October 15th: Deadline for players claiming the 2024 Injury Protection benefit.
October 15th-16th: The Fall League Meeting takes place at The Whitley in Atlanta, Georgia.
October 20th: Wembley Stadium in London hosts a clash between the New England Patriots and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

November 2024: Trades and Roster Deadlines

November 5th: The trade deadline for the 2024 season.
November 6th: Players with four or more pension-credited seasons become subject to the waiver system.
November 10th: Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, hosts the New York Giants versus the Carolina Panthers.
November 12th: A series of important deadlines for Franchise Players, Unrestricted Free Agents, and Restricted Free Agents.

December 2024: Preparing for the Postseason

December 10th-11th: The Special League Meeting and Front Office Accelerator are held at the Ritz-Carlton-Las Colinas in Irving, Texas.

January 2025: Playoffs and the Road to the Super Bowl

January 6th: Clubs can begin signing free agents for the 2025 season. This date also marks the start of the period when clubs can renegotiate or extend the contracts of eligible players.
January 8th: Rosters for playoff teams are frozen.
January 11th-13th: Super Wild Card Weekend kicks off the NFL playoffs.
Mid-January (Tentative): Deadline for underclassmen college players to declare for the NFL Draft.
January 18th-19th: Divisional Playoff Games narrow down the field of Super Bowl contenders.
January 20th: The NCAA National Championship Game takes place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
January 26th: The AFC and NFC Championship Games determine the two teams that will compete for the Lombardi Trophy.
January 30th: The East-West Shrine Bowl, a college football all-star game, showcases top prospects.

February 2025: Super Bowl LIX and Draft Season Begins

February 1st: The Senior Bowl, another prominent college football all-star game, takes place at Hancock-Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.
February 2nd: The Pro Bowl Games showcase the league’s best players in a series of skills competitions and a flag football game.
February 9th: Super Bowl LIX takes place at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
February 18th: The period for teams to designate Franchise or Transition Players begins.
February 24th – March 3rd: The NFL Scouting Combine is held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, where draft prospects participate in physical and mental tests.

March 2025: Free Agency and the New League Year

March 4th: The deadline for teams to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
March 10th-12th: The Negotiation Period for Unrestricted Free Agents.
March 12th: The start of the 2025 League Year and the free agency signing period.
March 30th-April 2nd: The Annual League Meeting is held at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida.
March 31st: The deadline for teams to meet funding requirements for guaranteed or deferred compensation in player and employee contracts.

April 2025: Draft Season Heats Up

April 7th: Teams with new head coaches can begin their offseason workout programs.
April 16th: Deadline for teams to conduct various pre-draft activities with draft-eligible players at team facilities.
April 18th: The deadline for Restricted Free Agents to sign Offer Sheets.
April 21st: Teams with returning head coaches can begin their offseason workout programs.
April 23rd: The deadline for teams to exercise their Right of First Refusal for Restricted Free Agents who have signed Offer Sheets. Also the deadline for pre-draft activities with eligible players at any location.
April 24th-26th: The NFL Draft takes center stage in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where teams select their next generation of stars.

May 2025: Rookie Minicamps and Offseason Workouts

May 1st: Deadline for teams to exercise Fifth-Year Options for players from the 2022 Draft.
May 2nd-5th or May 9th-12th: Rookie minicamps take place.
May 12th: Rookie Football Development Programs begin.
May 20th-21st: The Spring League Meeting and Coach Accelerator are held at the Omni Viking Lakes Hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

This list provides a comprehensive overview of the critical dates for the 2024-25 NFL season. Stay tuned for further updates and announcements as the season unfolds.