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NFL season start date
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
The NFL season starts Wednesday, Sept. 9, with Seahawks hosting Patriots. It's the first Wednesday kickoff since 2012, plus a record nine international games.
Background
The 2026 NFL season begins with a Super Bowl rematch between the defending champion Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. This year's kickoff is on a Wednesday instead of the usual Thursday, a first since 2012, to accommodate the first-ever NFL game in Australia the following night. The league also expanded international play to a record nine games across multiple countries.
How it unfolded
- Feb 2026Seahawks defeat Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl 60 to win their second Lombardi Trophy.
- Aug 29, 2026College football season kicks off, with the NFL season starting one week later.
- Sep 2, 2026Reports confirm the NFL season will start on Wednesday, Sept. 9, for the first time since 2012.
- Sep 4, 2026Preview articles highlight the Seahawks-Patriots opening night and the following night's Rams-49ers game in Australia.
- Sep 9, 2026NFL regular season kicks off with Seahawks hosting Patriots.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- The NFL scheduled the Wednesday kickoff to avoid conflict with the Rams-49ers game in Australia on Thursday night.
- Analysts
- The season opener is a must-see Super Bowl rematch, with the Seahawks aiming to repeat and the Patriots seeking revenge.