National Football League Important Dates 2024-2025

By Lydia Jane Allison

 

August

August 1-4 – Hall of Fame Weekend, Canton, Ohio.

August 8-11 – First Preseason Weekend

August 15-18 – Second Preseason Weekend

August 22-25 – Third Preseason Weekend

August 27 – Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players on the Active/Inactive List.

August 28 – Claiming period for players placed on waivers at the final roster reduction will expire at 12:00 noon, New York time. Upon receipt of the subsequent Personnel Notice, clubs may establish a Practice Squad of 17 players, as long as one player qualifies as an International Player. Beginning at 4:00 p.m., New York time, any player placed on Reserve/Injured, Reserve/Non-Football Injury or Illness, or Practice Squad; Injured during the regular season or postseason, may be designated for return later in the season, subject to the applicable procedures.

September

September 4 – At 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for all NFL Player Contracts, Practice Player Contracts, tender offers, and miscellaneous amounts to fit within each Club’s 2024 Salary Cap, in anticipation of the midnight expiration of the Top 51 Rule.

September 5-6, 8-9 – Kickoff Weekend

October

October 15-16 – Fall League Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia.

November

November 5 – All trading ends for 2024 at 4:00 p.m., New York time.

December

December 10-11 – Special League Meeting/Front Office Accelerator, Irving, Texas.

January

January 6 – Clubs may begin signing free agent players for the 2025 season, including players from the CFL.

January 8 – Beginning at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the Wednesday following the final regular season weekend, rosters are frozen for clubs participating in the postseason with limited exceptions.

January 11-13 – Super Wild Card Weekend.

January 18-19 – Divisional Playoffs.

January 26 – AFC & NFC Championship Games.

February

February 1 – Senior Bowl, Mobile, Alabama.

February 2 – Pro Bowl Games.

February 9 – Super Bowl LIX, Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana.

February 18 – Beginning this date through at 4:00 p.m., New York time on March 4, clubs may designate Franchise or Transition Players.

February 24-March 3 – NFL Scouting Combine, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana.

March

March 4 – Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

March 4 – College Pro Days Begin.

March 4 – April 23 – Draft-Eligible Facility Visits Begin. Clubs are permitted 30 non-local players for physical exams/visits; no on-field workouts. Video or telephone interviews with draft-eligible players begin. Clubs are permitted three video or telephone interviews per player, no longer than one hour in length.

March 10-12 – During the period beginning at 12:00 noon, New York time, on March 10 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 12, 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 2024 player contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 12.

March 12 – The 2025 league year and free agency signing period begin at 4:00 p.m., New York time. Trading period for 2025 begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time, after expiration of all 2024 contracts. The first day of the 2025 League Year will end at 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 12. Clubs will receive a Personnel Notice that will include all transactions submitted to the league office during the period between 4:00 p.m., New York time, and 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 12.

March 30-April 2 – Annual League Meeting, Palm Beach, Florida.

April

April 21 – Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.

April 24-26 – NFL Draft, Green Bay, Wisconsin.

May

May 1 – Deadline for Clubs to exercise Fifth-Year Option for players selected in the first round of the 2022 Draft.

May 12 – Rookie Football Development Programs begin.

May 20-21 – Spring League Meeting/Coach Accelerator, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 

COURTESY NFL COMMUNICATIONS

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