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:

  1. 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.
  1. 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.