2020 NFL League Calendar: Important dates

The phrase, “there is no offseason” is well served by the NFL and all of us who follow every move. With the NFL combine and free agency on the horizon, we’ve compiled the important dates from now until kickoff.

Feb. 24 - March 2 — NFL Scouting Combine, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Feb. 25 — First day for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

March 10 — Prior to 4:00 p.m. ET, deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

March 16 - 18 — Clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with, the agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents.

March 18 — At 4:00 PM ET, free agency officially begins, and teams may begin signing players or trading players who are still under contract. Additionally, all teams must be under the salary cap at this time.

March 29 - April 1 — Annual League Meeting, Palm Beach, Florida.

April 6 — Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2019 regular season may begin offseason workout programs. Teams with returning coaches begin April 20th.

April 17 — Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.

April 23 - April 25 — NFL Draft, Las Vegas, NV

April 27 — NFL clubs may request permission to visit with, try out, or sign any player who was under contract to the XFL at the conclusion of the XFL season.

May 1-4, 8-11 — Clubs may elect to hold their one three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday.

May 19 - May 20 — NFL Spring League Meeting, Marina Del Ray, CA

July 15 — At 4:00 p.m. ET, deadline for any club that designated a Franchise Player to sign such player to a multiyear contract or extension. After this date, the player may sign only a one year contract with his prior club for the 2020 season, and such contract cannot be extended until after the club’s last regular season game.

Mid-July — Clubs are permitted to open preseason training camp for rookies beginning seven days prior to the club’s earliest permissible mandatory reporting date for veteran players.

Veteran players other than quarterbacks or “injured players” may report to a club’s preseason training camp no earlier than 15 days prior to the club’s first scheduled preseason game or July 15, whichever is later.

July 22 — Signing period ends for Transition Players with outstanding tenders. After this date and until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, prior club has exclusive negotiating rights.

August 6 — Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio.

August 11 — Deadline for players under contract to report to their clubs to earn an accrued season for free agency.

Sept. 5 — Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players on the Active/Inactive List.

Sept. 10, 13 - 14 — Regular Season Week 1.