NFL Confirms 2020 League Year and Free Agency Will Begin Wednesday as Scheduled
By Sam Dunn
The effects of the coronavirus pandemic on our daily lives get more and more real with each passing day, and our sports have responded accordingly, closing up shop until further notice. The NFL, however, has given no indications that would make any changes to the offseason calendar as of this time.
Right on cue, the league informed its teams that the official "legal tampering" period will begin on Tuesday at 12 p.m. ET, with the new league year and free agency opening up on Wednesday as scheduled.
Now official. NFL sent memo to teams, informing them: Negotiation window noon tomorrow. League year weds. Franchise designation ends tomorrow at noon. Official.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2020
Whether you're a player hoping to get a jump start on free agency or a fan grasping for some manner of normalcy in this strange world of COVID-19, this is something to hold tightly.
Per Adam Schefter, it was the NFL Players Union that specifically refused to move the start of the league year.
NFL says NFLPA would not provide consent to move league year, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2020
NFLPA says: No one is traveling anyway. It’s not football activity, it’s deals. Everyone is working remotely. Let’s do our business remotely. And this could get worse before it gets better. So do it now.
We've already seen some players agree to re-sign with incumbent teams today, with Ryan Tannehill leading the way thanks to his big-time Titans deal. But in short order, rival teams will have a chance to start open negotiations with free agents as the silly season properly ratchets up. And that's something we ought to welcome given how much all our lives have changed in just these last few days.
No pressure, Tom Brady. No pressure.