The NFL regular season is the main attraction on the sports calendar, but football fans have to get through the preseason first.
It's an important part of the process, too. Starters get some live reps, while teams are also able to evaluate the rest of their roster before they have to cut it down ahead of the season.
The NFL preseason starts when teams report to training camp, but for most viewers, the real beginning of the preseason is the Hall of Fame game. Typically, the teams picked for that game have some affiliation with at least one of the players in that particular year's Hall of Fame clash.
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The NFL expanded the regular season to 17 games in 2021, and in doing so, eliminated one of the weeks of the preseason in the process. Players largely felt that the preseason was too long to begin with. Typically, starters will play some in the first preseason game, and more in the second before resting in the final game to prepare for the regular season. The only teams that play four preseason games now are the ones that play in the Hall of Fame game.
Here is a look at the full 2025 NFL preseason schedule.
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When does 2025 NFL preseason start and end?
- Start date: Thursday, July 31
- End date: Sunday, August 24
The 2025 NFL preseason will start with this year's Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. The Lions and the Chargers will be the teams in this year's Hall of Fame game. The opponents usually have a tie to that year's HOF class. For 2025, that would be longtime Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, who got in on his second year of eligibility.
How to watch NFL preseason games on TV
Every week of the preseason, select games will be chosen for national broadcast on CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, or Amazon Prime. NFL Network will also carry select games, while viewers can watch teams in their respective markets via local network affiliates.
Streaming options include NFL+, which also carries out-of-market games. Another option for nationally broadcast games is Fubo, which offers a free trial.
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NFL preseason schedule: Hall of Fame Game
Thursday, July 31 (Hall of Fame Game)
| Game | Kickoff Time (ET) | Channel |
| Lions vs. Chargers | 8 p.m. | NBC |
NFL preseason schedule: Week 1
Thursday, Aug. 7
- Baltimore Ravens vs. Indianapolis Colts (7p)
- Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cincinnati Bengals (8:30p)
Friday, Aug. 8
- Atlanta Falcons vs. Detroit Lions (7p)
- Carolina Panthers vs. Cleveland Browns (7p)
- New England Patriots vs. Washington Commanders (7:30p)
Sunday, Aug. 9
- Minnesota Vikings vs. Houston Texans (4p)
- Los Angeles Rams vs. Dallas Cowboys (7p)
- Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (7p)
- Green Bay Packers vs. New York Jets (8p)
NFL preseason schedule: Week 2
Friday, Aug. 15
- Atlanta Falcons vs. Tennessee Titans (7p)
Saturday, Aug. 16
- Indianapolis Colts vs. Green Bay Packers (1p)
- Minnesota Vikings vs. New England Patriots (1p)
- Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns (1p)
- Dallas Cowboys vs. Baltimore Ravens (7p)
- Los Angeles Rams vs. Los Angeles Chargers (7p)
- New York Giants vs. New York Jets (7p)
- Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7p)
Sunday, Aug. 17
- New Orleans Saints vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (1p)
- Chicago Bears vs. Buffalo Bills (8p)
Monday, Aug. 18
- Washington Commanders vs. Cincinnati Bengals (1p)
NFL preseason schedule: Week 3
Thursday, Aug. 21
- Carolina Panthers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (7p)
- New York Giants vs. New England Patriots (8p)
Friday, Aug. 22
- New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles (7:30p)
- Dallas Cowboys vs. Atlanta Falcons (8p)
- Tennessee Titans vs. Minnesota Vikings (8p)
- Kansas City Chiefs vs. Chicago Bears (8:20p)
Saturday, Aug. 23
- Cincinnati Bengals vs. Indianapolis Colts (1p)
- Cleveland Browns vs. Los Angeles Rams (1p)
- New Orleans Saints vs. Denver Broncos (1p)
- Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks (4p)