Important dates for the 2021 NFL season
The NFL season begins with the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers hosting America’s Team; the Dallas Cowboys on September 9. Though there are many defining occasions throughout the league before and after the battle of Brady and Prescott.
August
August 5 - Hall of Fame Game (Dallas Cowboys vs Pittsburgh Steelers)
August 12 - Start of Preseason Week 1
August 31 (4pm ET) - Rosters must be reduced to max. of 53 players on the Active/Inactive List.
September
September 5 - Final day of preseason training camp
September 9 - Season opener (Bucs vs Cowboys)
September 12 & 13 - Week 1 of NFL regular season
October
October 10 - NFL London Series, New York Jets vs. Atlanta Falcons @ Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
October 17 -NFL London Series, Miami Dolphins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
November
November 2 - Trade period ends for 2021
January
January 8 & 9 - Final week of the regular season (Week 18)
January 15 & 16 - Wild Card Playoff Games
January 22 - NFLPA Collegiate Bowl
January 22 & 23 - Divisional Playoff Games
January 28 - HBCU Combine
January 30 - AFC & NFC Championship Games
February
February 5 - Senior Bowl
February 6 - NFL Pro Bowl
February 13 - Super Bowl LVI
February 19 - HBCU Legacy Bowl
March
March 1-7 - NFL Scouting Combine
March 8- Franchise tag designation deadline
March 16 (4pm ET) - 2022 Free Agency begin
April 28-30 - 2022 NFL Draft