The 2022 NFL season is history, but the next season is already in the starting blocks. What happens in the offseason? Which dates are important?

The 2022 NFL season has come to an end with the Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs (35:38).

The offseason is now on the agenda in the best football league in the world. But it will be far from relaxed and uneventful. The first important dates are already on the agenda in February.

NFL Offseason: Overview of the Most Important Dates

February 21 – March 7: During this period, individual teams can franchise tags and transition tags.

February 28 – March 6: NFL Scouting Combine. At Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the junior players have to prove their skills in various disciplines. With good results, the players can once again increase their value for the draft.

13 – 15 March: The franchises are allowed to negotiate with the players who become free agents during this period. However, new contracts are not likely to be signed until the start of the new league year.

15 March: The new league year begins on 15 March at 22:00 German time. This is considered the kick-off for Free Agency.

26 – 29 March: The NFL’s annual meeting takes place in Phoenix, Arizona.

April 3: Teams that have hired a new head coach after the 2022 Regular Season ends may begin their offseason workout program.

April17: Franchises with returning head coaches may begin their offseason workout programs. These will include ten Organized Team Activities (OTA) days and a mandatory minicamp.

21 April: The last day Restricted Free Agents (a player whose contract expires without having at least four so-called “accrued” seasons to show for it) may sign a provisional contract.

26 April: The last day on which the former team of the Restricted Free Agent may exercise its “Right of First Refusal”. This allows it to match the other team’s offer and automatically keep the player.

April 27: Deadline day for teams to test, visit, interview (including video and phone calls) or conduct a physical examination of a draft eligible player at any location.

April 27 – 29: The annual draft is underway in Kansas City, with seven rounds of talent selected by each team.

May1: The last day a franchise is allowed to pull the fifth-year option on a first-round pick from the 2020 draft, meaning they can let him play another fifth year under his rookie contract.

May 5-8 or May 12-15: Teams may hold minicamps for rookies on one of the two possible weekends. Duration: maximum three days

May: Later this month, the schedule for the Regular Season of the upcoming season will be announced. However, the exact date is still open.

May15: The development programmes for the new rookies will begin.

22nd – 24th May: Owners, general managers, coaches and officials of the teams meet for the spring meeting and talk about adjustments.

June: Occasionally, teams may hold “Rookie Readiness Programs” again, focusing on the new players from the most recent draft.

Mid-July: Players who have been franchise tagged may sign long-term contracts until that day. If this does not happen, the agreed franchise tag applies or the player is allowed to sign a one-year contract for a different amount. Only at the end of the season can they then negotiate again.

July: A few days after this deadline, the training camp for the new season begins for the teams.

3 – 6 August: The preseason begins with the Hall-of-Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, followed by the inductions into the Hall of Fame.

7 September: The regular season begins with a home game for Super Bowl winner Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The opponent is not yet known.