Beyond the Super Bowl: The ultimate guide to the events of the NFL offseason

Super Bowl LIX is behind us, but there is no timeout in the NFL calendar.

While the players take a well-deserved break, the offseason is packed with excitement as teams reshape and prepare their rosters for next season.

In this article, DAZN News highlights the key events every NFL fan should know about between now and the start of the 2025 preseason.

Franchise and transition tag deadline

Date: February 18 - March 4

The franchise and transition tags are tools teams use to prevent their best players from leaving in free agency.

If a player is tagged, they receive a one-year tender. The type of tag applied determines whether the player can negotiate with another team and their compensation level.

The deadline to designate tagged players is 9pm GMT / 4pm ET on March 4.

Several key players were tagged in 2024, including talented wide receiver Tee Higgins.

NFL Scouting Combine

Date: February 24 - March 3

The Combine is a week-long, invite-only event during which 300 of the most talented college players showcase their talents to all 32 NFL teams.

The event, hosted at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, tests participants on various 'medical, mental, and physical criteria'.

Each prospect's performance at the Combine can drastically affect how NFL teams view them, potentially influencing their draft position in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Combine workouts

The Combine includes seven standard drills for each position group and specialised workouts for subgroups. The main workouts include:

• 40-yard dash
• 225-pound bench press
• Vertical jump
• Broad jump
• 20-yard shuttle
• 60-yard shuttle
• 3-cone drill

The 40-yard dash always attracts attention. In 2024, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy broke the record for the fastest time, which had stood for seven years.

The on-field workout dates for each position group are as follows:

• Defensive linemen and linebackers on February 27 at 8pm GMT / 3pm ET
• Defensive backs and tight ends on 28th February at 8pm GMT / 3pm ET
• Quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs on 1st March at 6pm GMT / 1pm ET
• Offensive linemen on 2nd March at 6 pm GMT / 1pm ET

Team Meetings

Each team also has the opportunity to meet with up to 45 players during the week. These meetings are crucial for allowing teams to discuss and test participants.

Free Agency signing period begins

Date: March 12

Every season, talented players whose contracts have expired move to new teams in free agency.

It represents one of the best opportunities for teams to fill their roster needs and become or remain in contention for postseason success.

During the 2024 free agency period, offensive MVP Saquon Barkley left the New York Giants to join NFC East rivals the Philadelphia Eagles, and Derrick Henry swapped the Tennessee Titans for the Baltimore Ravens.

The 2025 free agency period promises to significantly alter the NFL landscape, with the possibility that elite players such as Tee Higgins and Super Bowl LIX heroes Zack Baun and Josh Sweat will find new teams.

NFL Draft

Date: April 24 - April 26

The NFL Draft presents teams with the opportunity to select from a pool of elite college talent to enhance their rosters.

The draft, which will be held at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, will be one of the offseason's headline events.

Unless any trades have occurred, each of the seven rounds begins with the team with the worst record the previous year and ends with the Super Bowl champions.

The expected start times for each round are as follows:

• 1st round - 1am BST (Friday) / 8 pm ET on Thursday, April 24
• 2nd and 3rd rounds - 12am BST (Saturday) / 7 pm ET on Friday, April 25
• 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th rounds - 5pm BST / 12pm ET on Saturday, April 26

The first round of the draft is particularly exciting, and the first overall pick carries the weight of expectation as they embark on their NFL career.

Last year's first overall pick, Caleb Williams, was elated after being selected by the Chicago Bears.

Preseason training camp

Date: Mid-to-late July, exact date TBC

Training camps are an opportunity for each team to begin organised practices ahead of the upcoming season. They provide a first glimpse of rookies and new signings competing with and against their new teammates.

Last year, highlights of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams' performance in training camp went viral.

'Training camp battles' often determine which players win and lose important roles for their team.

For players on the fringes of the roster, their performance in training camp can often determine whether they remain among the 53 players when teams reduce their roster size in late August.

Start of preseason

Date: July 31

The first pre-season games will start.

This will be an opportunity to see the rookies and new transfers at work before the official launch of the season.

NFL Kickoff (D-178)

Date: September 4

The NFL will finally resume with the opening game of the 2025 regular season.

A date to mark with a white stone for all fans.

Super Bowl LX

Date: February 8, 2026

Finally, Super Bowl LX , the season's climax, will be held in San Francisco.

Who will lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy and enter the legend?

Other offseason dates

While the events listed above headline NFL offseason activities, a complete list of other dates can be found here.

DAZN News will bring you coverage of all the key NFL events throughout the offseason.