NFL
2024 NFL season key dates: when do training camps, preseason and the regular season start?
With the 2024 NFL Draft now over, the 32 teams will begin turning their attention to preparing for the on-field action.
It feels like only yesterday that the 2023 NFL season culminated, with the Kansas City Chiefs winning their second consecutive Super Bowl, and their third in five years. However, with the 2024 NFL Draft over and done with, it’s already time to start thinking about the following campaign.
Over the coming months, the 32 teams in the league will adjust their rosters, making changes to their coaching staff and work on their playing styles to prepare for the football action getting back underway.
Here’s what’s next on the agenda.
What happens next after the Draft?
- May 2: Deadline for teams to exercise fifth-year option for 2021 first-round draft picks. If the option is not activated, their contracts will not be extended by another year.
- 3-6 May or 10-13 May: Three-day rookie minicamps. Teams will hold a three-day rookie camp on the two weekends following the NFL Draft. Each team can only have a minicamp.
2024 NFL schedule announcment, OTAs, training camp dates
Early/mid May: 2024 NFL schedule announced
20-22 May: Spring League Meeting
End of May/beginning of June: Organized team activities (OTA)
17 July: Franchise tag deadline (4 pm ET)
Mid-to-late July: Training camps open
When does the 2024 NFL preseason begin?
The start date of each NFL team’s training camp is determined by when its preseason begins. The first preseason game is the Hall of Fame Game, in which the Chicago Bears will face the Houston Texans during Enshrinement Week in Canton, Ohio on Thursday 1 August (kick-off at 8 p.m. ET).
Once that game has been played, the rest of the teams in the NFL usually start their preseasons, which last for three weeks, around 10 days later.
Veteran players can start training camp 15 days before their first preseason game, while rookies have the option to begin training 22 days before their debut game.
When does the 2024 NFL regular season start?
Super Bowl champions the Chiefs will host the NFL Kickoff Game, the first of the regular season, at Arrowhead Stadium on 5 September, although their opponents have yet to be determined.
Last year, the Kansas City franchise were beaten by the Detroit Lions in that particular fixture.
The 2024 regular season will on end on Sunday 5 January 2025, with the playoffs set to start the following weekend. The next Super Bowl (LVIX) to mark on your agendas will be on Sunday 9 February at Caesars Superdome in New Orelaands, which will host a record-extending eighth championship game.