The NFL Players Association is working to finalize a proposal to overhaul the league’s offseason process beginning as soon as 2025, sources told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The group is advocating for eliminating voluntary on-field work in the spring in favor of a longer training camp session with players reporting in mid-June instead of early July, among other recommendations. A formal proposal is expected this summer.
Teams would hold a gradual ramp-up to football activities under the proposal. Non-padded and strength and conditioning drills would ease players into the traditional training camp regimen.
The union, which has been under new leadership since 2023, has sought players’ feedback on the plan. A majority of them support the change, per Pelissero. Rules pertaining to offseason activities and procedures are collectively bargained, so any modifications would require an agreement with the NFL.
The NFLPA has consulted medical and performance experts aiming to create a practical solution for reducing injuries and maximizing players’ recovery time. Under the proposal, virtual classroom work would still be permitted in the spring, but there would be no practice until training camp.
Restructuring the offseason for players doesn’t directly correlate to the potential for an 18-game regular season schedule, per Pelissero. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has openly discussed increasing the regular season by one game while decreasing preseason contests from three to two. The league hasn’t held formal discussions about changing the schedule, and changes to its format would have to be collectively bargained with the NFLPA. The current agreement runs through 2030.
