Two hundred and seventy-two games. Eight countries. Four continents. Six time zones. Eighteen weeks. Thirty-two teams. One champion. And five gold rings—apologies, Jayden Daniels. The 2026 National Football League season has arrived.
Seven months have passed since confetti settled across the turf at Levi's Stadium as Super Bowl 60 drew to a close, leaving supporters reluctant to depart, knowing another year without football awaited them. In that moment, Sam Darnold had just completed one of sport's most improbable redemption arcs, Aden Durde had etched his name into British sporting folklore, Mike Macdonald's defensive unit had dismantled Drake Maye's offence, and Bad Bunny had delivered a reggaeton masterclass during the half-time show amid political controversy.
Seattle Seahawks personnel celebrated the realisation of lifelong ambitions surrounded by family and friends. Yet for many others, the focus had already shifted forward—the NFL rarely lingers on the present moment.
The waiting is finished. From this point onward, football will dominate every Sunday until February arrives. The journey to Super Bowl 61 in Los Angeles commences now.
Seven months can reshape a league entirely.
Odell Beckham Jr has returned to the New York Giants wearing No 13, rejoining the franchise that selected him twelve years prior. Mike McCarthy now works alongside Aaron Rodgers once more, having replaced Mike Tomlin as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach as the four-time MVP enters his final campaign. Geno Smith reunites with the New York Jets thirteen years after they drafted him. Aaron Donald, at thirty-five years old, has emerged from retirement to join the Los Angeles Rams, pairing with Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to terrorise opposing offensive linemen across the circuit. Time travel appears unnecessary.
Garrett himself orchestrated the offseason's most significant transaction when the Cleveland Browns traded him to the Rams in exchange for Jared Verse. He stands as his generation's premier pass rusher, fresh from shattering the single-season sack record, and his arrival has positioned Sean McVay's squad—led by MVP Matthew Stafford—as Super Bowl favourites. Cleveland's decision to part with Garrett might have seemed prudent, yet the franchise subsequently undermined that logic by naming Deshaun Watson as their starting quarterback. Consistency remains elusive.
Beyond the roster movements, the offseason delivered its customary theatre. Adam Sandler presided over the wedding of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift at Madison Square Garden. New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel found himself embroiled in scandal involving NFL reporter Diana Russini following photographs from an Arizona resort. A man named Daejon Love faced arrest for allegedly impersonating a San Francisco 49ers wide receiver to defraud at least twenty-six women of more than one million dollars. San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York was arrested during a prostitution sting. Welcome to the NFL.
Giants running back Cam Skattebo nearly injured himself attempting a backflip at Fanatics Fest, naturally failing in the process. Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels drew social media mockery after sending LSU a cease-and-desist letter demanding the university cease using his name, image and likeness following their decision to award his former No 5 jersey to sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett.
Fantasy Football enthusiasts continued drafting Kyle Pitts as their starting tight end, a clear signal that normalcy had returned. Houston Texans pass rusher Will Anderson Jr, Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs and Seahawks corner Devon Witherspoon all signed record-breaking contracts for their respective positions. Anderson became the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, securing an average annual salary of fifty million dollars.
Maxx Crosby nearly became a Baltimore Raven before remaining in Las Vegas, where he will greet No 1 pick quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who begins his rookie campaign as backup to Kirk Cousins. Klint Kubiak assumes head coaching duties with the Raiders, rewarded for orchestrating Seattle's Super Bowl-winning offence alongside Darnold last season.
Coaching changes rippled across the league as ten franchises appointed new head coaches. Joe Brady replaced Sean McDermott at Buffalo, whilst Jesse Minter took over from John Harbaugh in Baltimore—shifts that underscore Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs' stranglehold on the AFC, whilst Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson's Super Bowl drought persists.
Following eighteen seasons in Baltimore, Harbaugh joined the Giants to oversee a fresh era built around Jaxson Dart, Malik Nabers and a formidable pass rush. Jeff Hafley, previously architect of Green Bay's adaptive defence, relocated to Miami to lead a Dolphins rebuild featuring British representation through Seydou Traore, the first player to attend the UK's NFL Academy before being drafted.
The league itself will traverse the globe more extensively than ever. Nine regular-season games will be played internationally in 2026, a record slate featuring inaugural visits to Melbourne in Australia, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and Paris, whilst returning to Mexico City, Munich and Madrid alongside three additional London fixtures.
The defending champion Seahawks open the 2026 campaign against the Patriots on Wednesday, September 9 at 8:20 p.m. ET, marking the first time the league has staged a season-opening game on a Wednesday. This matchup represents a Super Bowl rematch, another historic first for the organisation.
Week 1 also includes San Francisco facing the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne on Thursday, September 10 at 8:35 p.m. ET, launching the international slate with one of the season's marquee fixtures.
Last season demonstrated how unpredictable the league remains, culminating in the most improbable Super Bowl in history based on preseason projections. That narrative appears poised to continue.
Patrick Mahomes returns following surgery on a season-ending knee injury sustained in December, intent on reviving the Chiefs after they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Awaiting him is running back Kenneth Walker, signed to a three-year, forty-five million dollar deal after winning Super Bowl MVP honours. Mahomes endures as the AFC's defining story, having long served as the insurmountable barrier for Allen, Jackson, Joe Burrow and countless others seeking their moment. Yet each has believed their time had arrived, only to fall short, whilst Burrow has insisted this season represents his genuine opportunity.
The campaign presents numerous uncertainties. Will Bo Nix, Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos emerge as the AFC's elite? Do Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams position the Chicago Bears as legitimate contenders? How will Drake Maye respond to his Super Bowl nightmare? Was the Daniel Jones comeback story genuine? Can the 49ers finally maintain health to reclaim contention? What direction will the Jacksonville Jaguars take with Travis Hunter? How significantly will the Philadelphia Eagles feel the absence of AJ Brown? Does Tyler Shough represent the long-sought answer at quarterback for the New Orleans Saints? Can the Rams' assembled super-team function cohesively?
The Road Ahead
The regular season spans eighteen weeks with the schedule concluding in Week 18, featuring sixteen division games including three on Saturday, January 9 and thirteen on Sunday, January 10. The journey to Los Angeles and Super Bowl 61 begins immediately, with no respite until February arrives.
Watch the 2026 NFL season live on Sky Sports, including every London game, Thanksgiving and every minute of the playoffs on the road to Super Bowl 61 in Los Angeles.
