The annual NFL calendar never stops.
Here are key dates to keep an eye on for the Chargers during the 2025 season and 2026 offseason:
OCTOBER
October 21-22 - Fall League Meeting (New York, New York).
NOVEMBER
November 4 - All trading ends for 2025 at 4:00 p.m., New York time.
November 5 - Players with at least four previous pension-credited seasons are subject to the waiver system for the remainder of the regular season and postseason.
November 11 - At 4:00 p.m., New York time, signing period ends for Franchise Players who are eligible to receive offer sheets. Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to sign their unsigned Franchise and Transition Players, including Franchise Players who were eligible to receive offer sheets until this date. If still unsigned after this date, such players are prohibited from playing in NFL in 2025. Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to sign their unrestricted free agents to whom the "UFA Tender" was made. If still unsigned after this date, such players are prohibited from playing in NFL in 2025. Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to sign their restricted free agents, including those to whom the "June 1 Tender" was made. If such players remain unsigned after this date, they are prohibited from playing in NFL in 2025.
DECEMBER
December 9-10 - Special League Meeting (Virtual).
JANUARY
January 3-4 - Week 18
January 6 - Clubs may begin signing free agent players for the 2026 season, including players from the CFL. Earliest permissible date for clubs to renegotiate or extend the rookie contract of a drafted rookie who was selected in any round of the 2023 NFL Draft or any undrafted rookie who signed in 2024. 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. Clubs may exercise fifth-year options for players selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Early deadline for college players who are underclassmen to apply for Special Eligibility. A preliminary list of underclassmen who have been approved for entry into the 2026 NFL Draft will be sent to clubs on January 6.
January 7 - Beginning at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the Wednesday following the final regular season weekend, rosters are frozen for clubs participating in the postseason with limited exceptions.
January 10-12 - Wild Card Weekend powered by Verizon.
January 14 - Deadline for college players who are underclassmen to apply for Special Eligibility. A list of underclassmen who have been approved for entry into the 2026 NFL Draft will be sent to clubs on January 15.
January 17-18 - Divisional Playoffs presented by Intuit TurboTax.
January 23 - Deadline for college players who played in the National Championship game who are underclassmen to apply for Special Eligibility. A final list of underclassmen who have been approved for entry into the 2026 NFL Draft will be sent to clubs on January 24.
January 25 - AFC and NFC Championship Games presented by Intuit TurboTax.
FEBRUARY
February 8 - Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, California).
February 17 - Beginning this date through 4:00 p.m., New York time on March 3, clubs may designate Franchise or Transition Players.
February 23-March 2 - NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, Indiana).
MARCH
March 3 - Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
March 9-11 - During the period beginning at 12:00 noon, New York time, on March 9 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 11, 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 2025 player contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 11. During the two-day negotiation period prior to the start of the 2026 League Year, each club may conduct one video or phone call for no longer than one hour with no more than five (5) prospective unrestricted free agents. The player's agent must be a participant of the call. 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 11.
March 11 - The 2026 League Year and free agency signing period begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time. Trading period for 2026 begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time, after expiration of all 2025 contracts. The first day of the 2026 League Year will end at 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 11. 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 11.
March 29-April 1 - Annual League Meeting (Phoenix, Arizona).
APRIL
April 6 - Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2025 regular season may begin offseason workout programs.
April 15 - Deadline for clubs to time, test, visit, interview or conduct a physical examination with a drafteligible player at its club facility.
April 17 - Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.
April 20 - Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.
April 22 - 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 23-25 - NFL Draft (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania).
