Here is an overview of important NFL dates for 2025 league year. All times are Eastern and all dates are subject to change.
February 18
Beginning this date through 4:00 p.m., New York time on March 5 clubs may designate Franchise or Transition Players.
February 24 - March 3
NFL Scouting Combine, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana.
March 4
Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
College Pro Days Begin. Workouts of a school's Pro Day-eligible players with players outside of the scheduled Pro Day activities are prohibited. Private dinners, meetings, interviews are permitted.
March 10-12
Negotiation Period. During the period beginning at 12:00 noon, New York time, on March 10 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 12, 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 2024 Player Contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 12.
During the above two-day negotiating period, a prospective UFA who is not represented by an NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor ("Unrepresented Player") is permitted to communicate directly with a new club's front office officials (excluding the Head Coach and other members of the club's coaching staff) regarding contract negotiations. The club is responsible for confirming the player's status as an Unrepresented Player.
No prospective Unrestricted Free Agent is permitted to execute a contract with a new club until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 12.
March 12
The 2025 League Year and Free Agency signing period begin at 4:00 p.m., New York time.
Trading period for 2025. Trading begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time, after expiration of all 2024 contracts.
The first day of the 2025 League Year will end at 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 12. 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 12.
March 30 - April 2
Annual League Meeting (The Breakers, Palm Beach, Florida)
April 7
Clubs that hired a new Head Coach after the end of the 2024 regular season may begin offseason workout programs.
April 16
Deadline for clubs to time, test, visit, interview, or conduct a physical examination with a draft-eligible player at its club facility.
April 18
Deadline for Restricted Free Agents to sign Offer Sheets.
April 21
Clubs with returning Head Coaches may begin offseason workout programs.
April 23
Deadline for Prior Club to exercise Right of First Refusal to Restricted Free Agents who signed offer sheets.
Deadline for clubs to time, test, visit, interview (including video and phone calls), or conduct a physical examination with a draft-eligible player at any location.
April 24-26
NFL Draft, Green Bay, Wisconsin.
May 1
Deadline for Clubs to exercise Fifth-Year Option for players selected in the first round of the 2022 Draft.
May 2-5 or May 9-12
Clubs may elect to hold their one three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday on one of the two weekends following the Draft.
May 12
Rookie Football Development Programs begin.
May 20-21
Spring League Meeting, TBA.
June 1
Deadline for prior club to send "June 1 tender" to its unsigned RFAs 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 15
Deadline for clubs to withdraw qualifying offers to RFAs and still retain exclusive negotiating rights by substituting "June 15 Tender" of one-year contract at 110 percent of the player's prior-year Paragraph 5 Salary (with all other terms of his prior-year contract carried forward unchanged).
Late June
Rookie Readiness Program to be held at individual clubs.
July 15
At 4:00 p.m., New York time, 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 2025 season, and such contract cannot be extended until after the clubs last regular season game.