This can happen, and it makes a lot of sense for everyone: players, fans, coaches, owners, and medical.
I started working on this last year while talking with some friends of mine. I shared this with some of them - they think there is something here. Let me know what you think.
This is how the 2025-2026 regular season would have looked:
Sept 07 - week 1
Sept 14 - week 2
Sept 21 - week 3
Sept 28 - week 4
Oct 05 - week 5
Oct 12 - week 6
Oct 19 - week 7
Oct 26 - week 8
Nov 02 - week 9
Nov 09 - week 10
Nov 16 - week 11
Nov 23 - week 12
Nov 30 - week 13
Dec 07 - week 14
Dec 14 - week 15
Dec 21 - week 16
Dec 28 - week 17
Jan 04 - week 18
Jan 11 - week 19
Jan 18 - week 20
2 bye weeks for teams - 1st round of byes happen between weeks 6-9 and 2nd round is 13-16
Playoffs:
Jan 25 - Wild Card
Feb 01 - Divisional
Feb 08 - Championship
Feb 22 - Super Bowl
How do we get here?
Early off-season:
-NFL combine starts 2nd week of March (March 9)
-Teams that don't make the playoffs report March 16. Training Monday - Thursday until May 15, 2026
-Teams that make playoffs come 1st Monday April (April 6). Training Monday - Thursday until May 15, 2026
- 2 weeks off for all teams for all teams in May
Late off-season:
-Everyone report 1st Monday in June. No difference if rookie or vet, new HC or not. Training Monday - Thursday
-Everyone off July 4th week (June 29th)
July ramp:
-Back from 4th of July break train Monday - Friday
- July 06 week 1 = 70% game week
- July 13 week 2 = 80% game week
- July 20 week 3 = 90% game week
- July 21 week 4 = 100% game week
Aug ramp:
1st full week August off (Aug 3)
-Back for camp Aug 10
-8/10 week 1 = 90% game week load (no pre-season game)
-8/17 week 2 = 100% game week load (pre-season game 1)
-8/24 week 3 = 100% game week load (pre-season game 2)
-8/31 week 4 = 70% game week load (no pre-season game)
-Can have joint practices during the pre-season game 1 or 2 weeks but only for 7 on 7, inside run, and team periods (some cap on time).
Apparently there is data on increased injuries with joint practices - makes sense because intensity is ramped up. The practice isn't the problem, it is the loading and lack of tissue prep before. So with the increased time to train, and limit how long (around 30-45 min) of pure live work this can help prep players for the season.
Why players like this?
- 10 weeks off total
- 4 in Feb or March
- 2 weeks in May
- 1 week in July
- 1 week Aug
- 1 week in season bye week #1
- 1 week in season bye week #2
Can have more time off in-season and summer = planned trips with family
Why do coaches, fans, and owners like this?
- Spaced out time off, better ramp because players have more consistent training.
- Allows for more anti fragile athlete.
- Athlete on the field more (less paying for injured players)
- Better product on the field
- More people watching
- More $ from TV/fans/ads
- Not pay players to sit
You now have built a better team, they are around each other more in off-season = better chance to win.
There are ways to get this done based on the 2020-2030 CBA. Yes I read it.
- Appendix A
- Appendix K
- Page 29
- Page 31
- Page 161
- Page 165
- Page 167
- Page 208
- Page 238
- Page 239
- Page 245
- Page 258
- Page 278
- Page 288
- Page 307
- Page 375
- Page 400
- Page 438
I would love to hear your thoughts - reach out on IG or email us at service@strengthcoachnetwork.com
