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:
JULY
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 multi-year 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 club's last regular season game.
Mid-July - Clubs are permitted to open preseason training camp for rookies (defined as a player who has never signed an NFL player contract with a club in a prior league year) beginning seven days prior to the club's mandatory reporting date for veteran players.
Clubs may require first-year players (defined as a player who signed an NFL player contract with any club in a prior league year, but who does not have a pension-credited season) to report on the designated reporting date for all rookies, or at any time thereafter, including, but not limited to, the designated reporting date for veteran quarterbacks and injured players, or the designated reporting date for all other veteran players.
Veteran quarterbacks and "injured players" (as defined in CBA Article 21, Section 6) may be required to report to the club's preseason training camp no earlier than five days immediately prior to the mandatory reporting date for all other veteran players, provided the club has already opened (or simultaneously opens) its official preseason training camp for all rookies.
The earliest mandatory reporting date for veteran players (as defined in CBA Article 23, Sections 5(a)-(c) are:
a. For clubs whose first regular season game is on a Thursday or a Sunday, all veteran players other than quarterbacks and injured players are required to report to the club's official preseason training camp 47 days (including one day for physical examinations, meetings, classroom instruction, running, and conditioning) prior to such regular season game.
b. For clubs whose first regular season game is on a Monday, all veteran players other than quarterbacks and injured players are required to report to the club's official preseason training camp 48 days (including one day for physical examinations, meetings, classroom instruction, running, and conditioning) prior to such regular season game.
c. Notwithstanding Subsections (a) and (b) above, for clubs whose first preseason game is the Canton Hall of Fame Game, no veteran player other than quarterbacks and injured players will be required to report to such club's official preseason training camp earlier than fifteen days (including one day for physical examinations, meetings, classroom instruction, running and conditioning) prior to such preseason game.
July 22 - At 4:00 p.m., New York time, signing period ends for Transition Players with outstanding tenders. After this date and until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, prior club has exclusive negotiating rights.
At 4:00 p.m., New York time, on July 22 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later) signing period ends for unrestricted free agents to whom a "UFA Tender" was made by prior club. After this date and until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, prior club has exclusive negotiating rights.
July 31 - Hall of Fame Game, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Detroit Lions, Canton, Ohio.
AUGUST
August 5 - If a drafted rookie has not signed with his club by this date, he cannot be traded to any other club in 2025 and may sign a player contract only with the drafting club until the day of the Draft in the 2026 League Year.
August 7-10 - First Preseason Weekend.
August 15-18 - Second Preseason Weekend.
August 21-23 - Third Preseason Weekend.
August 26 - 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 roster reduction to 53 players, 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/NonFootball Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable; terminate or request waivers with the designation of Failed Physical or Non-Football Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable; request waivers; terminate contract; trade contract; or continue to count the player on the Active List.
Clubs are permitted to designate for return a maximum of two players who are placed on an applicable Reserve List during the business day of the final roster reduction. Any such player will immediately count against the club's number of designations, even if the player does not subsequently return to practice. Players who are on the Reserve List or Exempt List and are not counting against the 90-player limit will begin to count against the 90-player limit.
August 27- Claiming period for players placed on waivers at the final roster reduction will expire at 12:00 noon, New York time.
Upon receipt of the subsequent Personnel Notice, clubs may establish a Practice Squad of 17 players, as long as one player qualifies and is designated as an International Player. 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.
Beginning at 4:00 p.m., New York time, any player placed on Reserve/Injured, Reserve/NonFootball Injury or Illness, or Practice Squad; Injured during the regular season or postseason, may be designated for return later in the season, subject to the applicable procedures.
August 31- Final day of preseason training camp for all clubs, as defined in CBA Article 23, Section 10.
SEPTEMBER
September 1-6 - In accordance with the Personnel (Injury) Report Policy, each club is required to file a Practice Report by 4:00 p.m., New York time, (or as soon as possible after the completion of practice) every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for a regular season Monday game; Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday for a Wednesday game; Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday for a Thursday game; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for a Friday game; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for a Saturday game; and Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for a Sunday game. Each club must also file a weekly regular season Game Status Report by 4:00 p.m., New York time (or as soon as possible after the completion of practice) on Saturday for a Monday game; Tuesday for a Wednesday game; Wednesday for a Thursday game, Thursday for a Friday game, Thursday for a Saturday game, and Friday for a Sunday game. An update must be reported if there is any change in a player's condition after the initial Game Status Report is filed.
September 4-5, 7-8 - Kickoff Weekend presented by YouTube TV.
September 5 - NFL International Game at Corinthians Arena (São Paulo, Brazil) Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers
September 21 - Beginning on the day after the completion of the third regular season weekend, the claiming priority will be based on current standings, and ties will be broken based on current strength-of-schedule of the involved clubs. If ties still exist, they will be broken by strength-of-victory, point differential, and then by lot.
September 26, 29-30 - Beginning on the day after a club's fourth regular season game (including any bye week), it is permitted to begin practicing players on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform and Reserve/Non-Football Injury or Illness (if the player failed his preseason physical due to a nonfootball 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.
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).
