The NFL Player Association is working on a proposal to reportedly “overhaul the offseason schedule”, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Pelissero reports that the NFLPA is pushing to remove voluntary offseason workouts in the spring in favor of a longer training camp. Teams would be allowed to start camp as early as mid-June instead of when it currently starts in mid-to-late July.
The changes would go into effect as early as 2025.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported back in February on what the plan would look like:
“For instance, the existing series of phases and OTAs and minicamps that are followed by six weeks of down time could be swapped for four weeks before training camp,” he wrote. “That would give players a lot more time off, and it would potentially make them just as ready for camp, since they’d go straight from the pre-training camp workouts into camp.”
A majority of NFL players support the NFLPA’s proposed change, per NFL Media and a “formal proposal is expected this summer.” Offseason structures are part of the NFLPA’s collective bargaining agreement with NFL owners, however, so any official changes would require a deal with the league. The NFLPA proposal stems from a desire to “reduce injuries and maximize players’ recovery time” following the previous season, NFL Media reports, with virtual meetings replacing on-field workouts in the spring.
The report also clarifies that the proposal “isn’t directly tied to an 18-game season,” but it is a factor. If the NFL extends the regular season by another week, then the union wouldn’t be wrong for seeking a corresponding change to the offseason.
