Possible NFL Schedule Release Nears as League Targets Mid-May Unveiling

The NFL’s 272-game regular-season slate will be revealed during a three-day window in mid-May, according to multiple league sources, ending months of speculation for fans and franchises alike. ESPN first reported that the schedule will drop sometime between May 12 and May 14, with May 13—traditionally a Wednesday—the most likely candidate after the league used that weekday for back-to-back releases the past two years. May 14 remains in play if the NFL reverts to the Thursday unveilings it employed in 2022 and 2023.

Adam Schefter crystallized the timeline on his podcast, advising listeners to “circle your calendars for the week of May 11th” and forecasting an announcement “sometime around May 12th, May 13th, May 14th.” Once the schedule is published, all 32 clubs will know not only their opponents—already locked in—but also kickoff times, broadcast designations and the ever-scrutinized bye-week placements.

While the full matrix of games is still under wraps, the league has confirmed several high-profile fixtures. The season will open on Wednesday, Sept. 9, when the Seattle Seahawks host an opponent yet to be named, marking only the second time in 75 years the NFL has started on a Wednesday. Seattle’s opponent will be drawn from a pool that includes the Cardinals, Cowboys, Giants, Bears, Chargers and Patriots; the Chiefs are considered unlikely after owner Clark Hunt indicated uncertainty over Patrick Mahomes’ availability for the opener.

The international series will make history as well. Nine regular-season contests will be played outside the United States, the most in league annals. The marquee event will be staged at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where a Friday morning local kickoff—10:35 a.m. in Melbourne—will translate to 8:35 p.m. ET on Thursday night for American viewers. The participating teams have been partially announced: the Seahawks will serve as the home squad for the Australia game, while visiting teams for the remaining eight international matchups have yet to be disclosed.

London will again host multiple contests, traditionally scheduled in consecutive early-October weekends. The Jacksonville Jaguars will make history of their own by acting as the home team in back-to-back London games, a first for any franchise. The league has confirmed the home teams for all nine international games, but rumors continue to swirl about potential opponents and exact dates.

Once the schedule is released, attention will immediately pivot to prime-time slots, holiday games and the ever-critical late-season stretches that often decide playoff seeding. For now, fans need only clear one week on their calendars: the middle of May, when the roadmap to Super Bowl LX officially takes shape.