When does NFL Free Agency start?

Once Super Bowl 57 concludes, NFL fans will be waiting for the start of free agency. Here is when the negotiation window officially opens.

Conference Championship weekend has arrived, as four teams battle for two spots in Super Bowl 57. The Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals battle for the AFC spot, while the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers fight to represent the NFC. Once Super Bowl 57 concludes on Sunday, Feb. 12, the league officially enters offseason mode.

One of the most anticipated portions of the offseason is free agency. That is where contending teams and rebuilding organizations have the chance to get some of the best players available that are in need of a new contract. Names like Tom Brady, Orlando Brown, Geno Smith, and James Bradberry are some of the top players available.

For fans wondering when free agency officially begins, we have that answer for you.

When does NFL Free Agency begin?

According to NFL operations, the free agency negotiation window officially opens up on March 13 at 12:00 p.m. ET. That is where teams can enter contract negotiations with free agents, and it will officially close at 3:59:59 p.m. ET on March 15. However, both sides can not agree to terms on deals.

Here is what the league says specifically regarding the negotiation window:

“…clubs  are  permitted  to  contact,  and  enter  into  contract negotiations  with,  the  certified  agents  of  players  who  will  become  Unrestricted  Free  Agents  upon  the expiration of their 2022 Player Contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 15.”

The 2023 league year officially opens up on March 15 at 4:00 p.m. ET. From there, league operations say that free agent players can “execute a contract with a new club.” So, that will be when contracts can be officially agreed upon in principle, where they will then get finalized.

So be sure to have your notifications set on your phones from March 13-15, as that is when the craziness of NFL free agency officially begins.