Summer is basically just a countdown for football fans. You’ve survived the long, dry months after the Super Bowl, you sat through the draft, and now you’re just staring at your calendar waiting for something to happen.
Well, the wait is almost over. Honestly, the most common question I get this time of year is some version of "Wait, when do NFL training camps begin?" People want to book their trips to see practices or just know when their Twitter feeds will finally stop being about trade rumors and start being about actual highlights.
The short answer? Mid-to-late July. But if you’re looking for a specific date on the calendar, it’s a bit more of a moving target than you might think. It isn't like the first day of school where everyone shows up at 8:00 AM on a Monday.
The Logistics Behind Training Camp Start Dates
In the NFL, everything is governed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). It’s basically the league’s giant book of laws. According to the CBA rules for the 2026 season, most teams are permitted to open their training camps for rookies seven days before the veteran reporting date.
Veterans generally report 15 days before the team’s first preseason game.
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Because of that, the league doesn't have one uniform "start date." It’s staggered. If your team plays in the Hall of Fame Game—which is the unofficial kickoff to the preseason in Canton, Ohio—they get to start earlier. For 2026, the Hall of Fame Game is typically scheduled for early August, meaning those two lucky (or unlucky, depending on how much they like the heat) teams will be hitting the grass by mid-July.
Why Rookies Show Up Early
Rookies are basically the new kids on campus who don't know where the library is. The NFL gives them a head start. Usually, you’ll see the first-year players reporting about a week before the established stars.
This window is crucial. They need to learn the playbook without the pressure of a 10-year veteran breathing down their neck. They also go through "Rookie Readiness" programs that cover everything from financial literacy to how to handle the sudden fame.
Most teams will have their rookies in the building around July 15 to July 18.
The Veteran Wave
Once the rookies have their lockers settled, the veterans arrive. This is when the intensity actually cranks up. For the vast majority of the 32 teams, veteran reporting dates for the 2026 season will fall between July 21 and July 24.
By the time we hit July 25, pretty much every single player in the league will be back at work.
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When Do NFL Training Camps Begin for Your Favorite Team?
While the official league-wide schedule usually gets finalized and released in late June, we can pretty much set our watches by the patterns of the last few years.
Take the Kansas City Chiefs, for example. They almost always head to Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph. They usually have their first open practice to the public in that final week of July. Then you have teams like the Dallas Cowboys, who make the trek out to Oxnard, California, to escape the Texas heat.
If you're planning to attend, here is the general vibe of how the first week goes:
- Reporting Day: Players show up, take physicals, and move into their dorms or hotels. No football happens here. It's just paperwork and scales.
- The Acclimation Period: The CBA is very strict about this. Players can't just put on pads and start hitting on Day 1. There’s a five-day "ramp-up" period.
- Day 1 & 2: Helmets only. No contact. Lots of running.
- Day 3 & 4: "Shells" (light pads) and helmets. Still no "live" tackling to the ground.
- Day 6: This is the big one. This is usually the first day of full pads. This is when the real evaluation starts.
The "Ramp-Up" Is a Real Thing
I’ve seen fans get frustrated because they show up to the first day of camp and it looks like a track meet. "Where’s the hitting?" they ask.
The league changed these rules a few years ago to try and cut down on early-season injuries, specifically soft-tissue stuff like hamstrings and calves. Coaches hate it because they want to see who’s tough, but the sports science guys love it.
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The first few days are really just about making sure everyone’s lungs can handle the humidity.
What to Actually Watch For in Late July
When those gates finally open, don't just watch the quarterback. Everyone watches the quarterback. If you want to look like an expert, look at the "bubble" players.
Most teams start camp with 90 guys on the roster. By the end of August, they have to cut that down to 53. That means nearly half the people you see on the field in July will be looking for a new job in a month.
Watch the undrafted free agents. There is always one guy—every single year—who becomes the "training camp darling." He catches everything in 7-on-7 drills, the coaches start mentioning him in press conferences, and suddenly he’s a household name.
Surprising Details About Modern Camp
- GPS Trackers: Almost every player has a little hump on the back of their jersey. That’s a GPS tracker. It tells coaches exactly how much a player ran and if they are reaching their top speed. If a guy looks slow, the data proves it.
- The Heat: It’s no joke. Teams spend thousands of dollars on "cooling stations" and hydration experts. Some teams even practice at 8:00 AM just to avoid the 2:00 PM sun.
- Joint Practices: This has become the biggest trend in the league. Instead of just hitting their own teammates for three weeks, teams will invite another team over for two days of "joint practices." Things usually get a little heated. These usually happen in the second and third weeks of August.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you’re serious about catching a glimpse of the 2026 season before it officially starts, you need to be proactive.
Check the official team websites by mid-June. That is when the specific, day-by-day practice schedules are released. Most teams offer free tickets, but they are "timed entry" or require a digital reservation because of the crowd sizes. Don't just show up to the facility and expect to walk in.
Follow the beat writers. If you're on social media, find the 3-4 reporters who cover your team every single day. They are the ones who will post the "reporting dates" the second they hear them from the front office.
Prepare for the weather. It sounds simple, but I see people every year pass out at training camp because they forgot it's 95 degrees with 80% humidity. Bring water, wear a hat, and for the love of everything, use sunscreen. You’re there to watch football, not get a second-degree burn.
Once the veterans report in that third week of July, the NFL machine is officially back in motion. The season isn't just coming—it's basically here.