NFL VP Shares Disappointing Schedule Release Update on Tuesday

Traditionally, it is scheduled for the second week of May, but could shift to the second week of May due to the ongoing broadcast negotiations. North emphasized that the second week of May remains the target while the third week is firmly on the table.

The main issue is the five-game package that the league is negotiating with a streaming partner. Unless those negotiations are sorted, it is impossible to schedule.

“These five games that are out there as a package that are being negotiated right now- love to know when, where those games are going to be played so we can schedule them accordingly,” North said.

“We’ve got more international games than ever before. They’d sure like to know. There are planned trips. We need to book hotels and charter airlines and anthem singers and frisbee dogs,” North added.

The major offseason needs management between the draft and the training camp. Balancing travel demands and television value makes it more difficult. However, North believes it doesn’t get finalized until the Commissioner of the NFL says it’s finalized.

The NFL’s renegotiations with its main broadcast partners, including CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, and Prime Video, have frozen.

NBC Sports president, Jon Miller, stated that the NFL has not approached NBC regarding a new deal. There are no new deals in effect until 2027.

2026 NFL Schedule Set to Drop ‘Soon’ Amid Ongoing Timeline Doubts

Since the NFL regular season games are months away, fans can start planning their travel in due time when the NFL schedule is released in May. With the schedule yet to be released, several games have already been announced.