Super Bowl LX Concludes, Seahawks Crowned Champions as NFL Offseason Begins
The confetti has settled on Super Bowl LX, with the Seattle Seahawks officially crowned as NFL champions. However, across the league, there is no time for rest or complacency. The NFL calendar operates in a perpetual cycle, and as one season concludes, the groundwork for the next one immediately commences.
Coaches are diligently reviewing game film, general managers are actively working the phones to explore trades and negotiations, and player agents are preparing for a bustling March free agency period. For dedicated fans, this interim stretch represents a period of immense possibility and strategic anticipation. Factors such as available salary cap space, valuable draft picks, and key free agent signings possess the power to dramatically reshape team fortunes within mere weeks.
The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine: The First Major Offseason Checkpoint
The initial significant milestone on the offseason calendar is the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, scheduled from February 23 through March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Here, draft-eligible prospects will undergo rigorous athletic workouts, comprehensive medical evaluations, and crucial interviews with team personnel as franchises finalize their draft boards and assessments.
Franchise Tag Deadline and Projected Costs
Immediately following the Combine, the franchise and transition tag deadline arrives on March 3 at 4 p.m. Eastern Time. This mechanism allows teams to retain a key player from entering unrestricted free agency while continuing to negotiate a long-term contract. According to financial projections from Over The Cap, the cost of applying these tags is substantial for the 2026 season.
- The quarterback franchise tag is projected to command a staggering $47.321 million.
- Wide receivers are estimated at $28.824 million.
- Defensive ends carry a projected tag value of $27.322 million.
- Cornerbacks are projected at $21.414 million.
- Even specialists like kickers and punters are expensive, with a projected tag cost of $6.9 million.
Free Agency and the Legal Tampering Period
The headlines often start before free agency officially opens. The designated legal tampering period is set to run from March 9 at noon ET through March 11 at 4 p.m. ET. During this critical 52-hour window, teams are permitted to negotiate contract terms with the agents of impending unrestricted free agents. While agreements can be reached, no signing becomes official until the new league year formally commences on March 11 at 4 p.m. ET.
League Meetings and the 2026 NFL Draft
Later in March, from the 29th through April 1, NFL team owners will convene in Phoenix for the annual league meeting. This gathering will involve discussions and votes on potential rule changes, including renewed debate on proposals related to the controversial "tush push" play.
The marquee event of the offseason, the 2026 NFL Draft, is scheduled for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, near Acrisure Field. The first round will take place on Thursday night, followed by Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday, and concluding with Rounds 4 through 7 on Saturday. Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza is widely anticipated to be the first overall selection, with current projections suggesting the Las Vegas Raiders will hold that coveted pick.
Completing the Offseason Calendar
The draft will be followed by rookie minicamps, scheduled for teams on either May 1-4 or May 8-11. The final major offseason event for fans is the official release of the complete 2026 NFL regular season schedule, which has evolved into a significant spectacle of its own, typically occurring in mid-May.
While the Seattle Seahawks and their fans celebrate a hard-earned championship, the relentless march toward the 2026 season is already underway across all 32 NFL franchises, setting the stage for another year of intense competition and strategic maneuvering.
