The air is getting that familiar crispness again. You know the feeling. It’s that specific brand of anticipation that only arrives when the pads start popping and the fantasy drafts begin to clog up your Tuesday nights. Honestly, though, if you’re looking for the nfl season 2025 start, you’ve probably noticed that the league isn't just "starting" anymore—it’s launching like a global rocket.
Forget the old days where everyone just played on Sunday afternoon. The 2025 schedule is a chaotic, beautiful mess of international flights, holiday takeovers, and streaming exclusives.
Basically, the party officially kicks off on Thursday, September 4, 2025. But don’t expect a gentle ramp-up. The league is throwing us straight into the fire with a divisional grudge match that usually feels like a playoff game anyway.
The nfl season 2025 start: A Thursday Night Bloodbath
The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles are hosting the Dallas Cowboys to open the season.
Yeah, you read that right.
Usually, the league gives the reigning champ a bit of a "ceremonial" win, but not this time. They are putting the NFC East on notice immediately. Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. If you’ve been living under a rock, the Eagles handily won the last Super Bowl (40-22 over the Chiefs, in case you forgot the score), so Lincoln Financial Field is going to be absolutely vibrating.
But here is where it gets weird.
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Usually, we wait until Sunday for the next batch of games. Not in 2025. The NFL is doing a "Friday Night Lights" experiment in São Paulo, Brazil. On Friday, September 5, the Kansas City Chiefs face the Los Angeles Chargers.
It’s being streamed on YouTube.
Yes, YouTube. Not Sunday Ticket, just... YouTube. It’s a bold move that shows just how much the league wants to own every single day of the week.
Week 1 is basically a fever dream
If you’re trying to plan your life around the opening weekend, here is the rough layout of the heavy hitters:
- Thursday, Sept 4: Cowboys at Eagles (The "Actual" Start)
- Friday, Sept 5: Chiefs vs. Chargers (The Brazil Game)
- Sunday night, Sept 7: Ravens at Bills (A massive AFC showdown)
- Monday, Sept 8: Vikings at Bears (Caleb Williams vs. Sam Darnold's replacement?)
Why the 2025 Schedule feels so different
It’s not just about the dates. It’s the sheer volume of "specialty" games.
The league is leaning into the 18-week, 17-game format like never before. We’ve got games in Dublin, London, Berlin, and Madrid this year. The Pittsburgh Steelers playing in Ireland on September 28 is arguably the coolest thing on the calendar. Croke Park is going to be a sea of black and gold.
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Then you’ve got the holiday situation.
The NFL has essentially decided that they own Christmas. Period. They’ve partnered with Netflix to stream two of the three games on December 25.
- Cowboys at Commanders (1:00 p.m.)
- Lions at Vikings (4:30 p.m.)
- Broncos at Chiefs (8:00 p.m. on Prime Video)
It’s kind of wild to think we’re watching NFL games on a movie streaming platform, but that’s where we are.
What experts are saying about the "Revenge Tour"
I was chatting with some folks who follow the cap space and roster builds closely, and the consensus is that 2025 is the year of the "Sophomore Leap." All those rookie QBs from last year? They’re the ones driving the primetime slots.
Jayden Daniels and the Commanders have five primetime games.
Five!
That tells you everything you need to know about what the league thinks of his marketability. The "President's Bowl" between the Commanders and Chiefs in Week 8 is already being hyped as a "passing of the torch" moment, though Patrick Mahomes usually has something to say about that.
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Don't ignore the bye weeks
A lot of fans get burned in fantasy football because they don't look at the schedule depth. The first bye weeks start in Week 5 (Falcons, Bears, Packers, Steelers). If you have a roster heavy on those teams, you’re going to have a very bad Sunday in early October.
The Road to Super Bowl LX
Everything we’re seeing at the nfl season 2025 start is just a long, grueling lead-up to February 8, 2026. That’s when Super Bowl LX hits Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
The halftime show? Bad Bunny.
The stakes? Higher than ever with the new playoff overtime rules that ensure both teams get a possession regardless of a touchdown. No more "coin toss wins the game" complaints.
Actionable Steps for the 2025 Season
If you want to actually enjoy the season without losing your mind, you need a plan.
- Check your subscriptions now. You’re going to need NBC, FOX, CBS, ESPN/ABC, Amazon Prime, Netflix, and apparently a YouTube account to see every game.
- Mark the International Games. If you’re a Vikings fan, you have two London games early. That means 9:30 a.m. ET kickoffs. Set your alarms or you’ll miss half the game.
- Watch the Week 2 Rematch. Eagles vs. Chiefs on Sept 14 is a Super Bowl rematch and will likely determine who holds the #1 seed in their respective conferences later in December.
The season is a marathon, but the way it’s structured now, it feels like a series of high-stakes sprints. Get your snacks ready. It’s going to be a long winter.
Next steps for you:
Make sure your streaming apps are updated at least a week before the September 4 kickoff. If you're traveling, double-check the local broadcast rights for the Brazil and Dublin games, as those vary significantly by region.