The NFL announced a slate of important dates for fans to know on the 2018-19 calendar.
While some of these dates are subject to change, here are several important ones to mark down:
July
July 16 - 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 2018 season, and such contract cannot be extended until after the club's last regular season game.
Mid-July - Clubs are permitted to open preseason training camp for rookies beginning seven days prior to the club's earliest permissible mandatory reporting date for veteran players. Veteran players other than quarterbacks or injured players may report to a club's preseason training camp no earlier than 15 days prior to the club's first scheduled preseason game or July 15, whichever is later.
July 28 – The Chargers begin their 2018 training camp.
August
August 2-3 - Hall of Fame Weekend, Canton, Ohio. Former Chargers general manager Bobby Beathard will be among those enshrined into the Hall of Fame.
September
September 1 - Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players on the Active/Inactive List. Simultaneously with the cut-down to 53, clubs that have players in the categories of Active/Physically Unable to Perform or Active/Non-Football Injury or Illness must select one of the following options: place player on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform or Reserve/Non-Football Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable; request waivers; terminate contract; trade contract; or continue to count the player on the Active List.
September 2 - Claiming period for players placed on waivers at the final roster reduction will expire at 12:00 noon, New York time. In addition, upon receipt of the Personnel Notice at approximately 1:00 p.m., New York time, clubs may establish a Practice Squad of 10 players (clubs participating in the International Player Development Program may sign one additional international player to a Practice Player Contract.) No club, including the player's prior club, will be permitted to sign a player to a Practice Player Contract until all clubs have received simultaneous notification via the above Personnel Notice that such player's prior NFL player contract has been terminated via the waiver system.
September 25 - Beginning on the Tuesday following the third weekend of regular season games, the claiming priority is based on the inverse order of the standing of clubs in the current season's games.
October
Mid-October - Beginning on the sixth calendar day prior to a club's seventh regular season game (including any bye week) clubs are permitted to begin practicing players on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform and Reserve/Non-Football Injury or Illness for a period not to exceed 21 days. Players may be activated during the 21-day practice period, or prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the day after the conclusion of the 21-day period, provided that no player may be activated to participate in a Week 6 game.
October 16-17 - Fall League Meeting, New York, New York.
October 21 - NFL London Series, Tennessee Titans vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Wembley Stadium.
October 30 - All trading ends for 2018 at 4:00 p.m., New York time
Take a look behind the scenes from Chargers Promo Day as the players get hyped for the 2018 season.
December
December 12 - League Meeting, Irving, Texas.
December 31 - Earliest permissible date for clubs to renegotiate or extend the rookie contract of a drafted rookie who was selected in any round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Any permissible renegotiated or extended player contract will not be considered a rookie contract, and will not be subject to the rules that limit rookie contracts. In addition, 0ption exercise period begins for Fifth-Year Option for First-Round Selections from the 2016 NFL Draft. To exercise the option, the club must give written notice to the player on or after December 31, 2018, but prior to May 3, 2019.
January
January 5-6 – Wild Card Playoffs.
January 12-13 – Divisional Playoffs.
January 20 - AFC and NFC Championship Games.
January 26 – Senior Bowl, Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Alabama.
January 27 - NFL Pro Bowl, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida.
February
February 3 - Super Bowl LIII, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
February 19 - First day for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players
February 26-March 4 - Combine Timing and Testing, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana.
March
March 5 - Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
March 11 – 13 - During the period beginning at 12 noon, New York time, on March 11th and ending at 3:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 13th, 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 2018 player contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 13. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 13. During the above two-day negotiating period, a prospective unrestricted free agent who is not represented by an NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor 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.
March 13 - The 2019 League Year and Free Agency period begin at 4:00 p.m., New York time. The first day of the 2019 League Year will end at 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 13. 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 13. Trading period for 2019 begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time, after expiration of all 2018 contracts.
March 24-27 - Annual League Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona.
April
April 1 - Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2018 regular season may begin offseason workout programs
April 15 - Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.
April 19 - Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.
April 24 - Deadline for prior club to exercise right of first refusal to restricted free agents
April 25 – 27 - NFL Draft, Nashville, Tennessee.
