The NFL has officially unveiled the calendar for its 2026 offseason workout programme, setting the timetable for the league’s gradual return to on-field activity ahead of the April draft and September regular season kickoff.

For clubs across the league, the announcement effectively marks the beginning of the march toward training camp, with veteran players able to report for the first phase of voluntary workouts from early April.

As outlined under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, each team’s formal nine-week offseason programme is split into three distinct phases, beginning with two weeks focused solely on meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation.

The second phase introduces controlled on-field work, including individual drills and walk-through installations, before teams move into the four-week OTA window, where 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and full 11-on-11 non-contact sessions are permitted.

Importantly, live contact remains prohibited throughout the entire spring schedule. That restriction keeps the emphasis firmly on installation, timing and conditioning rather than physical competition, making this period particularly significant for new coaching staffs and quarterbacks learning fresh systems.

The timing is especially notable this year, with the 2026 NFL Draft set for April 23rd–25th in Pittsburgh.

For many franchises, the initial veteran reporting dates fall either side of the draft, creating an important early window for coaches to lay schematic foundations before integrating rookie classes later in May. Teams with new head coaches are once again permitted to hold an additional voluntary veteran minicamp before the draft, a provision that several clubs are expected to utilise as they seek to accelerate offseason installs.

That provision could be particularly significant for teams undergoing major organisational resets. The Pittsburgh Steelers, for example, are among those taking advantage of the extra spring work following the arrival of Mike McCarthy, while clubs such as the Las Vegas Raiders (with Klint Kubiak) and New York Giants (John Harbaugh) also begin earlier than most after coaching and roster changes.

Beyond the veterans, attention will quickly turn to rookie development programmes, which can begin from May 11th, with post-draft rookie minicamps typically held on one of the first two weekends following the draft. Those camps often provide the first real glimpse of headline draft selections in NFL environments, making them a focus for fans and media alike.