After an awful collapse that saw them go from 6-2 to 8-9 and miss the playoffs for the first time since 2019, the Bucs are on to the 2026 NFL offseason. While Wild Card Weekend is underway and several teams have designs on making a run toward Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Tampa Bay has shifted its focus to next season.

This 2026 NFL offseason, despite the fact that it’s only underway for some teams, has already seen some movement – as it usually does starting with “Black Monday,” the day when a flurry of coach firings occur. Brian Callahan and Brian Daboll were fired in-season by the Titans and Giants, respectively, and more coaches have joined them on the job market this week.

It started with the Falcons firing Raheem Morris, the Browns firing Kevin Stefanski, the Raiders firing Pete Carroll and the Cardinals firing Jonathan Gannon. The next one was bigger news, as the Ravens sent John Harbaugh packing after 18 seasons with the team, shaking up the head coaching market considering that Harbaugh quickly became the No. 1 target for several teams. After Harbaugh’s firing, the last one for the week was that of Mike McDaniel by the Dolphins.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: IMAGN – Jim Dedmon

Notably, amid all the movement, the Bucs stood pat with their head coach. Todd Bowles will be returning in 2026 for a fifth season as Tampa Bay’s head coach, though plenty of changes are in the process of being made. Bowles fired his offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, defensive line coach, cornerbacks coach and special teams coordinator, plus his safeties coach retired. So, for the Bucs, the 2026 NFL offseason begins there as they now have several spots to fill on their coaching staff.

From there, general manager Jason Licht, Bowles and the rest of the Bucs’ brass will have plenty of work to do when it comes to retooling this roster and turning it back into a true contender in 2026. Between free agency and the NFL Draft, they have significant holes to fill on the defense, with needs at defensive line, outside linebacker, inside linebacker and cornerback. Not to mention, improved depth is needed along the offensive line and at running back, tight end and safety.

So, that’s all on its way in the coming months. Through that lens, here are some of the important dates to know for the 2026 NFL offseason, including college all-star games, the beginning of the new league year, the 2026 NFL Draft and more.

2026 NFL Offseason: Dates To Know

January

Jan. 5 – Teams can start signing free agent players for the 2026 season, including CFL players; Earliest date teams can start renegotiating or extending rookie contracts of drafted rookies from the 2023 Draft or any undrafted rookie who was signed in 2024; Teams can begin exercising fifth-year options for players selected in the first round of the 2023 Draft

Jan. 14 – Deadline for underclassmen in college to apply for special eligibility

Jan. 23-26 – East-West Shrine Bowl practices in Frisco, Texas

Jan. 27 – 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl in Frisco, Texas

Bucs WR Tez Johnson – Photo by: USA Today

Jan. 27-29 – Senior Bowl practices in Mobile, Alabama

Jan. 31 – 2026 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama

February

Feb. 3 – Pro Bowl Games in San Francisco, California

Feb. 8 – Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California

Feb. 17 – Teams may begin designating players for franchise or transition tags

Feb. 23-March 2 – NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana

March

March 3 – Deadline at 4:00 p.m. ET for teams to designate players for franchise or transition tags

March 9 – Starting at noon ET, teams can contact and enter contract negotiations with certified agents of players set to become unrestricted free agents;

Bucs general manager Jason Licht – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

March 11 – 2026 league year and free agency signing period begin at 4:00 p.m. ET

March 29-April 1 – Annual League Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona

April

April 6 – Teams that hired new head coaches after the 2025 regular season can begin offseason workout programs

April 15 – Deadline for teams to time, test, visit, interview or conduct physical exams with draft-eligible players at their team facilities

April 17 – Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets

April 20 – Teams with returning head coaches can begin offseason workout programs

April 22 – Deadline for prior team to exercise right of first refusal to restricted free agents who signed offer sheets; deadline for teams to time, test, visit, interview (including video/pone calls) or conduct physical exams with draft-eligible players at ANY location

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles, WR Emeka Egbuka and GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

April 23-25 – 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

May

May 1 – Deadline for teams to exercise fifth-year options for players selected in the first round of the 2023 Draft

May 1-4 OR May 8-11 – Teams can hold their three-day post-draft rookie minicamp from Friday-Sunday or Saturday-Monday

Mid-May – 2026 NFL schedule release

May 13-17 – NFLPA Rookie Premiere in Los Angeles, California

May 19-20 – Spring League Meeting in Orlando, Florida

Late May – Organized team activities (OTAs) begin

June

June 1 – Deadline for prior teams to send June 1 tender to its unsigned restricted free agents who received a qualifying offer for a right of first refusal only for that player to be subject to the CBA’s June 15 tender provision

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Early June – Mandatory minicamps begin

Late June – Rookie Readiness Program for individual teams

July

July 15 – 4:00 p.m. deadline for any team that designated a franchise player to sign that player to a multiyear contract or extension. After this date, the player may only sign a one0year contract for the 2026 season, and that contract cannot be extended until after the team’s last regular season game

Mid-July – Training camps begin