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The countdown is over. NFL training camp is here. Every team is 0-0 so there is hope in every city that this season ends with a championship parade.
Bryce Young and the defending NFC South champion Carolina Panthers report Wednesday. The same goes for the Arizona Cardinals, led by rookie head coach Mike LaFleur. The teams will meet in the Hall of Fame game that kicks off the preseason on August 6.
The reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots open camp Friday. They will face off in a Super Bowl rematch that opens the regular season on September 9.
Many teams have many questions to answer before the first week. It’s a long road to Los Angeles, which will host Super Bowl 61 on February 14. Valentine’s Day will be the last date on which the match will have been played.
It just means more football. Ten teams have new coaches. Some have new quarterbacks. A few superstars have changed teams.
Start of training camp
The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers report to camp on Saturday, making it six teams before the end of this week. The NFC West rivals will play their first regular season game in Australia on September 10. The remaining 26 teams must report next Tuesday.
Head coaches in new places
John Harbaugh joined the New York Giants after being fired by Baltimore after 18 seasons. He has Jaxson Dart and some talented players to build around.
Kevin Stefanski, a two-time AP NFL Coach of the Year, took over in Atlanta after six seasons in Cleveland. He inherits a team that has plenty of playmakers on offense, including All-Pro running back Bijan Robinson, receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts. They need to determine whether Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. will be the quarterback.
Robert Saleh is the new manager of Tennessee. The Titans are coming off back-to-back 3-14 seasons, but Saleh already has a franchise QB in Cam Ward and he brought in Brian Daboll to develop him and run the offense.
Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers are reunited in Pittsburgh. They won a Super Bowl together in Green Bay and aim to give the Steelers at least their first playoff victory since January 2017.
The other six new head coaches are first-timers. LaFleur has a tough task in Arizona. Klint Kubiak helped Sam Darnold win a Super Bowl in Seattle and hopes to rebuild the Las Vegas Raiders. Jeff Hafley went from playing defense in Green Bay to running the Miami Dolphins. Joe Brady replaced Sean McDermott in Buffalo after the Bills continued to fail in the playoffs.
Todd Monken replaced Stefanski in Cleveland and Jesse Minter is the new coach in Baltimore.
The quarterback carousel spins again
Tagovailoa has a chance to revive his career with Stefanski in Atlanta after a disappointing finish in Miami. Kyler Murray left Arizona for Minnesota, where the Vikings hope he can stay healthy and return to Pro Bowl form.
Kirk Cousins is the stopgap for the Raiders, who drafted Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick. Malik Willis parlayed three strong starts in two seasons with the Packers into a $67.5 million contract with the Dolphins, including $45 million fully guaranteed.
Geno Smith returned to the Jets. Justin Fields is Patrick Mahomes’ new replacement in Kansas City. Kenny Pickett is Carolina’s new No. 2, veteran Andy Dalton joined Philadelphia to play behind Jalen Hurts and Gardner Minshew went to the Cardinals.
Quarterback competitions in several cities
Tagovailoa and Penix will compete in Atlanta. Cousins is expected to start in Las Vegas, but Mendoza could end up starting sooner rather than later. Murray has to beat out JJ McCarthy, who was the Vikings’ 2024 first-round pick.
The most interesting battle will be for the Browns starting job. Deshaun Watson is back after missing 2025 to compete with Shedeur Sanders.
The other main intrigues
Will Baker Mayfield get contract extension from Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Mayfield is in the final season of a three-year, $100 million contract. He’s expected to make around $55 million per season and another three-year deal makes sense.
Will Aaron Donald come out of retirement to join two-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett in Los Angeles? The Rams acquired the five-time All-Pro from the Browns and strengthened their secondary by adding cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Donald, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, is 35 and hasn’t played since retiring after the 2023 season.
Joint practices
More and more teams are choosing to practice against other opponents to prepare their quarterbacks and key starters for the regular season instead of preseason games.
Only the Lions, Chiefs, Broncos and Steelers are not participating in any joint sessions.
When will staff numbers be reduced?
Teams can carry a maximum of 90 players throughout training camp and for all of their preseason games. Lists must be narrowed to 53 by 6 p.m. EDT on August 30.
Associated Press reporting.
