2026 Season Timelines

[Burt the Butcher]

Tuesday April 28th at 11:59pm - RFA Declarations are Due

Thursday April 30th at 11:59pm - Soft Cap Period Ends and Franchise player declarations are also due prior to this date/time

Friday May 1st at 12:00am - Hard Cap Period Begins, Contracts roll over and 4th year Taxi Squad members rollover to Active Squad and new MFL Site is created.

Saturday May 2ndat 12:00am - RFA Bidding Opens

Sunday May 31st at 11:59pm - RFA Bidding Closes

Monday June 8th at 12:00am - Rookie Draft Begins

First Monday after rookie draft ends at 12:00am at 12:00am - this date will also be somewhat flexible in that as it would not open until the 1st Monday after the rookie draft has been completed - Opening of the UFA period

Sunday, Aug. 30th @ 12:00am: The Sunday prior to the first week 1 game of the NFL season at 12:00am - this will be a flexible date each year that basically commences the day after the 3rd pre-season games end (4th for the few teams that play 5). This will be approximately 4-7 days before the NFL regular season kicks off - Injured Reserve Opens

Sunday, Aug. 30th @ 11:59pm: The Sunday prior to the first week 1 game of the NFL season week at 11:59pm - this will be a flexible date each year that basically commences the day after the 3rd pre-season games end (4th for the few teams that play 5). This will be approximately 7-10 days before the NFL regular season kicks off - Off-Season Free Agency ENDS and RFA/UFA/Rookie Declarations are due

Monday, Aug 31st @ 12:00am: The Monday prior to the first week 1 game of the NFL season 12:00am - opening of In-Season Free Agency

October 31st @ 11:59pm - Hard Cap Period Ends

November 1st @ 12:00am - Soft Cap Period Begins

[Burt the Butcher]

Also, rosters/salaries roll over April 30th at 11:59pm ET and Franchising players are due prior to that.

[Burt the Butcher]

With the Rookie Draft concluded, the UFA Bidding will start tomorrow, June 29th at 12:01am ET