After a break of more than five months, the NFL is back in action. The 2026 regular season kicks off on Wednesday, September 9, and it does so with a historic touch: for the first time since 2016, Week 1 opens with an immediate rematch of the previous Super Bowl. The Seattle Seahawks, reigning champions after beating the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX, host those same Patriots at Lumen Field.
But before the ball is snapped, this offseason delivered moves that will go down in history: seismic trades, mega-contracts, and even a new deal with the officials. Here’s everything important, graphics included.
The biggest trades of the offseason
The 2026 trade market produced moves that reshuffled the league’s balance of power. These are the four trades that have generated the most buzz:
1. Myles Garrett: from Cleveland to Los Angeles
The most seismic trade of the year. Garrett, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year who just came off a 23-sack season, left Cleveland for the Rams in June, barely a year after signing an extension to stay with the Browns. Cleveland received edge rusher Jared Verse and several draft picks, including a 2027 first-rounder. Garrett’s contract with Los Angeles is enormous: $31.5 million in 2026 and up to $41.7 million in 2027.
2. A.J. Brown: reunited with Mike Vrabel
The Patriots, runners-up in Super Bowl LX, addressed their receiving-corps weakness by bringing in A.J. Brown from Philadelphia in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder. The move reunites Brown with head coach Mike Vrabel and gives Drake Maye a true No. 1 target.
3. Jaylen Waddle to Denver
The Broncos, who fell just short of the Super Bowl after losing the AFC Championship, went all-in on Bo Nix by sending first-, third- and fourth-round picks to Miami for Waddle, who now pairs up with Courtland Sutton.
4. Trey Hendrickson to Baltimore
After the collapse of the Maxx Crosby trade talks, the Ravens reacted by signing Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million deal, adding an elite finisher who arrives motivated after years of contract tension in Cincinnati.
Other moves that defined the summer
- John Harbaugh to the Giants: New York hired the veteran head coach, a Super Bowl XLVII winner with more than 180 regular-season wins, to lead their rebuild.
- New deal with the officials: the NFL and the referees’ association signed a seven-year collective bargaining agreement in May, avoiding the risk of replacement officials in 2026 and adding extra training programs.
- Reset in Miami: the Dolphins fired Mike McDaniel, released Tua Tagovailoa, and brought in head coach Jeff Hafley along with quarterback Malik Willis.
- Other jersey changes: David Montgomery to the Texans, Osa Odighizuwa to the 49ers, and Zaire Franklin to the Packers, among others.
The offseason’s biggest contracts
Beyond the trades, free agency produced some enormous numbers. Here’s how the average annual values of the most talked-about deals compare:
Week 1 schedule
The season opens with an unusual format: 16 games spread across Wednesday, September 9 through Monday, September 14.
- Wednesday, Sept. 9: Patriots @ Seahawks — a Super Bowl LX rematch, opening the season on a Wednesday for the first time.
- Thursday, Sept. 10: 49ers @ Rams, in Melbourne, Australia — the NFL’s first regular-season game in that country.
- Sunday, Sept. 13: a full slate of 13 games, including Commanders-Eagles and Cowboys-Giants.
- Monday, Sept. 14: Broncos @ Chiefs closes out the week, with a possible return for Patrick Mahomes after his ligament injury.
Super Bowl LXI is set for February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in California, closing out an 18-week schedule.
What to watch this season
With Seattle as the defending champion and a market that spread stars like Garrett, Brown and Waddle among direct contenders, the balance of power in both conferences has shifted noticeably. Denver and Baltimore arrive reinforced to fight for the AFC, while Los Angeles and New England look to take the next step with their new additions. Everything points to a wide-open season.
