What do you do in the offseason? That's a question I get asked a lot. The reality of it is, there are plenty of things going on in the NFL world year-round. So now that the 2018 regular season is over, I'm here to get you through the offseason with some key dates to keep an eye on as we wait (not so patiently, in my case) for the start of the 2019 season.
See below for more important dates on the NFL schedule:
February 26 – March 4 – NFL Scouting Combine, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
March 5 – Deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition players (prior to 4:00 p.m. ET)
March 13 – HAPPY NEW YEAR! The 2019 league year and free agency period begin at 4:00 p.m. ET
April 1 – Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2018 regular season may begin offseason workout programs
April 25-27 – 2019 NFL Draft, Nashville, Tennessee
Mid-July – Clubs are permitted to open preseason training camp for rookies and first-year players beginning seven days prior to the club's earliest permissible mandatory reporting date for veteran players.
August 1 – Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio
August 31 – Clubs must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players on the Active/Inactive List (prior to 4 p.m. ET)
September 5, 8-9 – Regular Season Week 1 (a.k.a. WE MADE IT)