The 2026 NFL campaign has officially kicked off, bringing with it a staggering array of numbers that underscore the league’s global reach and competitive intensity: 285 games spread across eight nations, four continents, and six time zones, all unfolding over 22 weeks. Thirty-two franchises will battle for a single championship, with the ultimate prize being five gleaming gold rings—though one of those may belong to a certain quarterback named Jayden Daniels, who seems to have missed the memo. Just seven months ago, the last remnants of confetti from Super Bowl 60 were still littering the field at Levi's Stadium as fans filtered out, reluctant to admit that the season had truly ended. The atmosphere was thick with the familiar post‑championship lull, a collective holding of breath as the sport entered its annual hibernation.
That evening featured several storylines that will be remembered for years. Sam Darnold completed a fairy‑tale redemption arc that seemed straight out of a Hollywood script, while British coach Aden Durde etched his name into the annals of UK sports history.
Defensive mastermind Mike Macdonald’s “Dark Side” unit tormented rookie quarterback Drake Maye, and Bad Bunny turned the halftime show into a reggaeton spectacle that silenced critics from the white‑house press corps. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks celebrated a childhood dream come true surrounded by family and friends, even as the rest of the league’s clock reset for another relentless season.
Football rarely lingers in the present; it propels forward, demanding that every team, player, and fan gear up for the next chapter. The long countdown is finally over.
From this point forward, Sundays will be saturated with football until February, when the road to Super Bowl 61 in Los Angeles culminates. For the best viewing experience, the league recommends using the Chrome browser to access a more accessible video player.
Seven months can produce a whirlwind of developments, and the 2026 offseason has been nothing short of spectacular. Odell Beckham Jr. has returned to the New York Giants, donning his iconic number 13 after re‑signing with the club that originally drafted him twelve years ago.
Mike McCarthy is back on the sidelines with Aaron Rodgers, having taken over from Mike Tomlin as the new head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, setting the stage for Rodgers’ final season in the league. Geno Smith rejoined the New York Jets, a full thirteen years after the franchise first selected him, while Aaron Donald emerged from retirement at age 35 to re‑sign with the Los Angeles Rams, linking up with Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to form a fearsome front line. If you’re a Sky subscriber, you can catch all the action on the Sky Sports app. Those without a Sky subscription can still gain instant, contract‑free access by downloading the Sky Sports app or even joining via WhatsApp.
Myles Garrett was arguably the most seismic move of the offseason. The Browns traded their premier pass rusher to the Rams in exchange for Jared Verse, sending shockwaves through the league. Garrett, fresh off a record‑breaking sack season, now bolsters Sean McVay’s Rams—who are already considered early favorites thanks to MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford.
The Browns, meanwhile, have opted to start Deshaun Watson, a decision that many see as a continuation of the franchise’s recent missteps. Off the field, the offseason provided its own brand of drama. Adam Sandler officiated the high‑profile wedding of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift at Madison Square Garden. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel found himself tangled in a tabloid‑style scandal involving NFL reporter Diana Russini after a series of photos surfaced from an Arizona resort.
A man named Daejon Love was arrested for allegedly impersonating a San Francisco 49ers wide receiver to defraud more than 26 women out of over $1 million. In a separate case, 49ers owner Jed York was taken into custody during a prostitution sting operation. For newcomers, welcome to the NFL—where the action never stops.
The offseason also delivered its share of slapstick moments. Giants running back Cam Skattebo attempted a backflip at Fanatics Fest and nearly injured himself—a classic example of why athletes stick to football. Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels sparked a social‑media firestorm after sending LSU a cease‑and‑desist letter demanding they stop using his name, image, and likeness now that the No.
5 jersey has been reassigned to sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett. In a whimsical twist, the fast‑food chain Five Guys was humorously renamed Four Guys, and Adam Levine supposedly renamed his band—though none of those events actually occurred. Fantasy football enthusiasts are already drafting Kyle Pitts as their starting tight end, a clear sign that the season feels fully underway.
The writer admits a personal bias toward Pitts, whether justified or not. Meanwhile, several players have secured record‑breaking contracts: Houston Texans pass rusher Will Anderson Jr., Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith‑Njigba, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, and Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon have all signed deals that make them the highest‑paid at their respective positions. Anderson’s contract, averaging $50 million per year, makes him the highest‑paid non‑quarterback in league history. Maxx Crosby’s potential move to Baltimore fell through, leaving him in Las Vegas after an odd series of events that also introduced No.
1 overall pick quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who will start his rookie year with the Raiders as a backup to his brother‑in‑law Kirk Cousins. Klint Kubiak, credited with helping Seattle win a Super Bowl, has taken the helm of the Denver Broncos, becoming one of ten new head coaches across the league. Other coaching changes include Joe Brady replacing Sean McDermott as the Buffalo Bills’ head coach and Jesse Minter succeeding John Harbaugh as the Baltimore Ravens’ leader.
These shifts underscore the lasting influence of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs’ recent AFC dominance, while Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson continue to wait for their own Super Bowl breakthrough. After an 18‑year stint in Baltimore, John Harbaugh has moved to the New York Giants, ushering in a new era centered around quarterback Jaxson Dart, wide receiver Malik Nabers, and a revamped pass rush. Jeff Hafley, formerly the architect of the Green Bay Packers’ ever‑changing defense, has accepted the head‑coaching job in Miami, where he will oversee a rebuild that includes British talent Seydou Traoré—the first player to graduate from the UK’s NFL Academy and be drafted into the league.
The NFL’s global expansion continues at an unprecedented pace, with a record nine regular‑season games scheduled outside the United States. The league will make historic first‑time stops in Melbourne, Australia; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Paris, France, while returning to Mexico City, Munich, and Madrid, and adding three more contests in London.
The international slate kicks off in Australia during kickoff week, when the San Francisco 49ers travel to the Melbourne Cricket Ground to face the Los Angeles Rams on a Thursday night. Earlier that week, the defending champion Seattle Seahawks will open the season against the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl rematch—a first for the league.
Last season’s surprise Super Bowl, which defied preseason odds, suggests that unpredictability will remain a hallmark of the competition. Patrick Mahomes, returning from knee surgery performed after his season‑ending injury in December, is determined to lead the Chiefs back to the playoffs after missing the postseason for the first time since 2014.
He will be joined by running back Kenneth Walker, signed to a three‑year, $45 million deal after the Chiefs invested heavily to retain their MVP quarterback. Despite a difficult previous year, Mahomes continues to dominate AFC narratives, often eclipsing the aspirations of Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow. While each of those quarterbacks has had moments when the league seemed theirs, the pendulum now swings back toward Mahomes, with the AFC still looking for a new standard‑bearer.
The upcoming season is riddled with questions: Will Bo Nix, Sean Payton, and the Denver Broncos constitute the AFC’s true class of the year? Can the Chicago Bears, led by Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams, emerge as genuine contenders? How will Drake Maye rebound from his Super Bowl disappointment?
Is Daniel Jones’ resurgence a lasting storyline? Will the 49ers stay healthy enough to contend again? What role will Travis Hunter play for the Jacksonville Jaguars? How will the Philadelphia Eagles cope without AJ Brown?
Is Tyler Shough the long‑awaited solution at quarterback for the New Orleans Saints? And can the Rams’ super‑team finally click? Answers will unfold over the next 22 weeks, culminating in the grand showdown on February 9, when Super Bowl 61 will be contested in Los Angeles. The journey begins on Thursday, September 10, with Sky Sports broadcasting every game—including all three London matchups, the Thanksgiving classics, and every playoff minute—so fans can follow the drama all the way to the championship.