Key dates for 2016
January 23 – East-West Shrine Game, Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida.
January 24 – AFC and NFC Championship Games.
January 30: Senior Bowl, Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Alabama.
January 31: Pro Bowl, Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii.
January 31: An assistant coach whose team is participating in the Super Bowl, who has previously interviewed for another club’s head coaching job, may have a second interview with such club no later than the Sunday preceding the Super Bowl.
January 31: Deadline for NFL clubs to try out and negotiate with CFL players whose 2015 contracts are due to expire at 12 noon, New York time, on February 9.
February 7: Super Bowl 50, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California.
February 8: Waiver system begins for 2016.
February 9: NFL clubs may begin to sign players whose 2015 CFL contracts have expired. Players under contract to a CFL club for the 2016 season or who have an option for the 2016 season are not eligible to be signed.
February 13: NFL Regional Combine, Houston, Texas.
February 16: First day for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition players.
February 20: NFL Regional Combine, Phoenix, Arizona
February 23-29: NFL Scouting Combine, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana.
February 27: NFL Regional Combine, Owings Mills, Maryland.
March 1: Deadline for teams to designate Franchise or Transition players prior to 4 p.m. ET.
March 5: NFL Regional Combine, Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
March 7-9: 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 2015 Player Contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 9. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 9.
March 9: The 2016 league year and free agency period begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time. The first day of the 2016 league year will end at 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 9. 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 9.
March 9: Clubs must submit qualifying offers to their Restricted Free Agents with expiring contracts and to whom they desire to retain a Right of First Refusal/Compensation.
March 9: Clubs must submit a Minimum Salary Tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2015 contracts and who have fewer than three accrued seasons of free agency credit.
March 9: All clubs must be under the 2016 salary cap prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time.
March 12: NFL Regional Combine, Metairie, Louisiana.
March 20-23: Annual League Meeting, Boca Raton, Florida.
April 4: Clubs with new head coaches can begin offseason workout programs.
April 18: Clubs with returning head coaches can begin offseason workout programs.
April 22: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.
April 28-30: NFL Draft, Chicago, Illinois.
May 6-9: Teams can hold their three-day rookie minicamp.
May 9: Rookie Football Development Program begins.
May 13-16: Teams can hold their three-day rookie minicamp if haven’t done so yet.
May 19-22: NFLPA Rookie Premiere.
May 23-25: NFL Spring League Meeting, Charlotte, North Carolian.
June 1: Deadline for prior club to send “June 1 Tender” to its unsigned Restricted Free Agents who received a qualifying offer for a Right of First Refusal Only in order for such player to be subject to the CBA’s “June 15 Tender” provision.
June 19-25: Rookie Symposium, Aurora, Ohio
July 15: Deadline for clubs to sign player with franchise tag to a long-term contract extension. After this date, the player may sign only a one-year contract with his prior club for the 2016 season, and such contract cannot be extended until after the club’s last regular season game.
Mid-to-Late July: NFL Training Camps open. Camp is not permitted to open earlier than 15 days prior to the team’s first scheduled preseason game.