when does free agency start in the nfl
The NFL’s 2026 free agency period officially begins on March 11, 2026 at 4 p.m. ET , when the new league year starts and teams can officially sign contracts.
When does free agency start in the NFL?
(Quick Scoop)
Key dates for 2026 NFL free agency
- Legal negotiating window (“legal tampering”)
- Opens: March 9, 2026 at 12 p.m. ET
- Closes: March 11, 2026 at 3:59:59 p.m. ET
- During this window, teams can negotiate with agents/players but cannot officially execute contracts.
- Official start of free agency / new league year
- Starts: March 11, 2026 at 4 p.m. ET
- At this moment, the 2026 league year begins , existing 2025 contracts expire, and teams can officially sign and announce free-agent deals and trades.
So in everyday terms, fans will see the rumors and “agreements in principle” start flying from March 9 , but the deals become real and signable on the afternoon of March 11.
Mini breakdown: how it plays out
You’ll see a kind of two-stage drama:
- March 9–11: Rumor and negotiation frenzy
- Insiders report “Player X intends to sign with Team Y” during the legal tampering window.
* Nothing is _official_ yet, but the market basically takes shape in these 52 hours.
- March 11, 4 p.m. ET: Deals go on the books
- Teams can send contracts to the league office, announce signings, and process trades as the new league year opens.
* This is when your timeline usually explodes with official graphics and press releases.
Quick FAQ style notes
- Is the “legal tampering” period part of free agency?
- Technically no, because contracts can’t be executed yet, but functionally it’s when the biggest deals are negotiated and agreed.
- Why does everything hit at 4 p.m. ET?
- The NFL links the start of free agency to the start of the new league year , and that switch is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET.
Simple timeline (2026)
- March 9, 12 p.m. ET – Legal negotiating period begins.
- March 11, 3:59:59 p.m. ET – Legal negotiating period ends.
- March 11, 4 p.m. ET – 2026 league year starts, NFL free agency officially opens.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.