When Does the NFL Preseason Start?

The NFL preseason starts on Thursday, August 8th.

Introduction

The National Football League (NFL) preseason is the period each year during which NFL teams play several not-for-the-record exhibition games before the regular season starts.

Preseason performances are used by coaches to decide which players will make the final 53-player roster for the regular season. Roster cuts to reduce the team’s size from 90 players usually occur on the Tuesday following the third preseason game, or after the fourth preseason game.

History of the NFL Preseason

The National Football League preseason is the period each year during which NFL teams play several not-for-the-record exhibition games before the regular season starts. Beginning with the featured Pro Football Hall of Fame game in early August, five weekends of preseason games are currently played in August and September (with one additional game, the San Diego Chargers–Seattle Seahawks contest, being played on Thursday, August 15, the first day of the preseason). Prior to 1978, NFL teams played between four and eight preseason games.

Exhibition games were avilable on television as early as 1955; however, they were blacked out in most markets until 1971 (when rules prohibiting such blackouts were finally dropped). Local radio broadcasts of Preseason games began in 1950. Today all NFL Preseason games are broadcast nationally on either ESPN or NFL Network.

Preseason games are generally split into two different types: “local” games and “national” games.Local preseason games are typically televised on the same network as each team’s respective first- and second-string regular season broadcast rights holder(s), while national preseason games are typically televised by either ESPN or NFL Network (with some exceptions – e.g., collection of simulcast feeds from various local rightsholders).

When Does the NFL Preseason Start in 2020?

The National Football League preseason is the period each year during which NFL teams play several not-for-the-record exhibition games before the regular season.

The NFL preseason typically runs for four weeks, from early August to early September. The precise dates vary from year to year, but it generally starts on the Thursday following the first Monday of August and runs until Labor Day weekend.

The 2020 NFL preseason will start on Thursday, August 13 and run through Thursday, September 3.

What Happens During the NFL Preseason?

During the NFL preseason, which typically runs from early August to early September, each team plays four exhibition games. These “practice” games are used to evaluate players and help coaches determine who will make the team’s final 53-man roster.

Preseason games do not count towards a team’s regular season record, but they are important for players trying to make an NFL roster. For veterans, the preseason is used to shake off any rust that may have accumulated during the offseason and to get back into playing shape. For rookies and first-year players, the preseason is their first chance to show NFL coaches what they can do against live competition.

The NFL regular season typically begins the week after Labor Day in September.

Conclusion

For most people, the preseason is nothing more than a warm-up for the main event. But for diehard fans, it’s a chance to get an early look at the upcoming season.

The NFL preseason typically starts in early August and runs for four weeks. The exact dates vary from year to year, but the first week is typically reserved for the Hall of Fame Game, which is played between two teams of NFL legends.

The remaining three weeks are used for exhibition games, which pit each team against opponents from outside of their division. These games are used to help coaches evaluate players and make decisions about who will make the final cut for the regular season roster.

While the preseason is technically considered part of the NFL’s offseason, it’s really just the calm before the storm. For fans, it’s a time to get hyped up for another exciting season of football.