January 1: Week 17

January 2: Clubs may begin signing free agent players for the 2017 season.

January 2: Clubs may renegotiate or extend the rookie contract of a drafted rookie who was selected in the 2014 NFL draft.

January 2: Option exercise period begins for fifth-year option for first-round selections from the 2014 NFL draft. Must be done prior to May 3.

January 8-9: Assistant coaches under contract to playoff clubs that have byes in the Wild Card games may be interviewed for head coaching positions through the conclusion of the Wild Card games.

January 10: Coaches of non-playoff teams are free to discuss employment if contract is due to expire

January 15: Assistant coaches under contract to playoff clubs that won their Wild Card games may be interviewed for head coaching positions through the conclusion of the Divisional Playoff games.

January 16: Deadline for college players that are underclassment to apply for special eligibility. A list of players who are accepted into the NFL draft will be sent to teams on January 20.

January 29: An assistant coach whose team is participating in the Super Bowl, who has previously interviewed for another club’s head coaching job, may have a second interview with such club no later than the Sunday preceding the Super Bowl.

January 29: NFL Pro Bowl

January 31: Deadline for NFL clubs to try out and negotiate with CFL players whose 2016 contracts are due to expire at 12 noon ET, on February 14.

February 6: Waiver system begins for 2017

February 14: Starting at 12 noon ET, NFL clubs may begin to sign players whose 2016 CFL contracts have expired

February 15: First day for teams to designate franchise or transition players

February 28 – March 6: NFL scouting combine

March 1: Prior to 4:00 p.m. ET: Deadline for clubs to designate franchise or transition players

March 7-9: Teams are permitted to contact and enter into negotiations with unrestricted free agents. However, a contract cannot be executed until 4:00 p.m. ET on March 9.

March 9: Prior to 4:00 p.m. ET, teams must exercise options for 2017 on all players who have options clauses in their 2016 contracts

March 9: Prior to 4:00 p.m. ET, teams must submit qualifying offers to their restricted free agents.

March 9: Prior to 4:00 p.m. ET, teams must submit minimum salary tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2016 contracts and who have fewer than three accrued seasons of free agency credit.

March 9: Prior to 4:00 p.m. ET, all teams must be under the 2017 salary cap.

March 9: All 2016 player contract will expire at 4:00 p.m. ET

March 9: Trading period begins for 2017 at 4:00 p.m. ET

March 26-29: Annual league meeting

April 3: Teams that have hired a new head coach may begin offseason workout programs

April 17: Teams with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs

April 21: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets

April 27-29: 2017 NFL draft

May 5-8: Teams may elect to hold their one three-day post-draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday

May 12-15: Teams may elect to hold their one three-day post-draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday

May 15: Rookie Football Development Programs begin

May 18-21: NFLPA Rookie Premiere

May 22-24: Spring league meeting

Late June: Rookie Transition Program to be held at individual teams. Attendance is mandatory for all rookies.

July 15: At 4:00 p.m. ET, deadline for any team that designated a franchise player to sign such player to a multiyear contract or extension. After this date, the player may sign only a one-year contract with his prior club for the 2017 season and such contract cannot be extended until after the club’s last regular season game.

Mid-July: Teams are permitted to open preseason training camp for rookies and first-year players beginning seven days prior to the team’s earliest permissible mandatory reporting date for veterans.

Veteran players other than quarterbacks of “injured players” may report to a club’s preseason training camp no earlier than 15 days prior to the team’s first scheduled preseason game of July 15, whichever is later.

Veteran quarterbacks and injured players may be required to report to the team’s preseason training camp no earlier than five days immediately prior to the mandatory reporting date for all other veteran players, provided the club has already opened (or simultaneously opens) its official preseason training camp for all rookies and first-year players.

A three-day acclimation period will apply to players who are on a club’s roster up to and including the mandatory veteran date. Players who join the roster after that date may practice and play immediately passing a physical.

July 22: Signing period ends for transition players with outstanding tenders.

August 3: Hall of Fame Game