For exactly 99.4% of a calendar year, tampering is a huge no-no for NFL teams.
Since 2012, the league has allowed an exception for that outlying 0.6% of the calendar – two and one-third days, to be more exact – in the form of its “legal tampering” window, also known as a “free agent negotiating period.”
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During that short window, teams are allowed to begin negotiating with pending free agents shortly before the official start of the new league year. That way, players and their agents can agree to terms with a prospective team on a new contract before officially hitting free agency. Once the new league year begins, any agreed-upon deals can become finalized and official.
There are a few important notes and caveats to the legal tampering window, and the dates are not the same every year.
Here’s what to know about the 2026 free agent negotiating period ahead of the new league year’s official start:
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What is ‘legal tampering’ in the NFL?
Fourteen years ago, the league implemented a “legal tampering” window to counter the growing number of under-the-table negotiations before the official start of free agency.
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Under normal circumstances (i.e., outside of the legal tampering period), teams are not allowed to negotiate contract details with players who aren’t on their roster. However, the NFL’s negotiation period allows any team and player representative to start the process of reaching a deal prior to the official start of free agency.
A few important notes and restrictions apply to the NFL’s legal tampering window.
For one, a team cannot contact a player directly during this time. All negotiations before free agency can occur only between the front office and the player’s representation (read: agent). That also means players can’t visit other teams’ facilities until they officially hit the open free-agent market.
When direct contact does happen, teams (and occasionally general managers) are fined and can lose draft picks. Last year, the Falcons didn’t have their fifth-round pick in the NFL draft because they made illegal direct contact with quarterback Kirk Cousins prior to the new league year. The NFL also fined the team $250,000 and then-general manager Terry Fontenot an additional $50,000.
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That said, there is a new rule in place for the first time in 2026. Teams may conduct one video or phone call (maximum 1 hour) with up to five free agents, with the player’s certified agent also participating on the call. This was a rule change proposed and approved last Spring and will be implemented for the first time during the negotiating window.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) reacts against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.
Additionally, deals agreed upon during the legal tampering period are not official until the new league year starts. A player might agree to terms on a contract deal and back out before it becomes official when the league year rolls over and free agency begins.
In 2022, edge rusher Randy Gregory agreed (through his agent) to a five-year deal to remain with the Cowboys before eventually backing out of the agreement to sign with the Broncos.
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When does the NFL’s ‘negotiation period’ start?
Players and their agents can begin negotiating new deals with teams two days before the start of the new league year.
This year’s negotiation period begins on Monday, March 9 at noon ET and ends with the start of the new league year. At that point, all contracts roll over to the next year, pending free agents officially become free agents and tampering is no longer a relevant issue.
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When does NFL free agency start?
NFL free agency officially begins with the start of the new league year. In 2026, the new league year begins on Wednesday, March 11 at 4 p.m. ET.
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All contracts in their final year expire, and all deals negotiated during the negotiation period become official. Players who hit free agency are officially allowed to sign new deals with any team. Trades completed in between the end of the season and the start of the new league year also become official and finalized.
Top NFL free agents 2025
According to USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis, these are the 10 best players set to become free agents this year:
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When does NFL free agency start? What is the ‘negotiation period’?
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