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NFL Season Kickoff Date and Pre-Season Matchups Released

NFL Season Kickoff Date and Pre-Season Matchups Released

The beginning of the upcoming NFL season is being eagerly awaited, with the anticipation for a thrilling and unpredictable journey towards the Super Bowl intensifying.

Following their victory in February, the Philadelphia Eagles are the current champions, but the Kansas City Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, are determined to recapture the title, heading a strong group of contenders. 

Teams such as the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, and Detroit Lions all have their sights set on making it to the Super Bowl in Santa Clara, making the competition for the world championship as fierce as ever.

As excitement builds for the upcoming season, here's a guide to the season kickoff, pre-season activities, and key early matchups to look out for.

When Does the New NFL Season Start?

The 2025 NFL regular season kicks off on Thursday, September 4, with the customary opening game featuring the reigning Super Bowl champions. 

The Philadelphia Eagles will face their NFC East rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, in a highly anticipated matchup.

The first Sunday of the season, September 7, will see a full lineup of games, with the highlight being a marquee Sunday Night Football battle between the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens, two top AFC contenders.

A particularly intriguing early game takes place in Week 2, as the Eagles visit Arrowhead Stadium for a Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs. 

This game will provide an early indication for the Eagles of their chances at another title run against the powerhouse led by Patrick Reid.

This season will also feature a record seven international games, with matchups set in London, Berlin, Madrid, Sao Paulo, and Dublin as the NFL continues to expand globally.

The regular season will conclude on January 4, 2026, with the playoffs starting the following week. 

Super Bowl LX is set for February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in California.

When Does NFL Pre-Season Start?

Prior to the regular season, teams will undergo training camps and a shortened pre-season schedule to get ready for the challenging season ahead.

Action begins with the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, July 31, featuring the Detroit Lions against the Los Angeles Chargers in Canton, Ohio. 

This yearly opener is part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s induction weekend and serves as a good warm-up for some NFL teams.

Following the Hall of Fame Game, the pre-season continues with Week 1 games between August 7-10, followed by more matches over the subsequent two weeks.

Key matchups include the New England Patriots vs the New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings vs the Tennessee Titans.

Due to their involvement in the Hall of Fame Game, both the Lions and Chargers will play four pre-season games, while all other teams will have three.

NFL Training Camp Preparation