Most NFL teams have spent the last few weeks self-scouting their 2014 seasons, putting together free agent plans and learning of the college prospects available in the upcoming draft.
Now that the Super Bowl is over, the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks can join the rest of the NFL in preparing for the 2015 season.
With that said, the 2015 NFL offseason has now officially begun.
As the players take the next couple of months to relax and do their own thing; the personnel departments, coaches and front office staff's work diligently to find answers to questions their teams face this offseason.
Those questions will lead to answers that will determine the success of a season that's still seven months away from beginning.
But as is the case with anything, success for an NFL team is the result of hard work and preparation. Not only from the players, but from the scouts, coaches and personnel directors who spend tireless hours this time of year combing through every possible scenario to put together the best team.
Photos from the 4th quarter of the 2014 season, games 13-16.
For the Kansas City Chiefs, the work being done by general manager John Dorsey and his staff right now will be key to how the Chiefs' 2015 roster will be shaped.
The calendar below shows you the key dates for the offseason, including the window for franchise tag designations (February 16-March 2), window for signing your team's own upcoming free agents (March 7-10), the start of the new league year (March 10) and the day teams can begin offseason workouts (April 20).
| 2015 | |
|---|---|
| February 2 | Waiver system begins for 2015. |
| February 7 | NFL Regional Combine, Doctors Hospital Training Facility, Davie, Florida. |
| February 10 | Beginning at 12 noon, New York time, NFL clubs may begin to sign players whose 2014 CFL contracts have expired. Players under contract to a CFL club for the 2015 season or who have an option for the 2015 season are not eligible to be signed. |
| February 14 | NFL Regional Combine, Methodist Training Center, Houston, Texas. |
| February 16 | First day for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players. |
| February 17-23 | NFL Scouting Combine, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana. |
| February 21 | NFL Regional Combine, Paul D. Bowlen Memorial Broncos Centre, Dove Valley, Colorado. |
| February 28 | NFL Regional Combine, Under Armour Performance Center, Owings Mills, Maryland. |
| March 2 | Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players. |
| March 7 | NFL Regional Combine, Halas Hall, Lake Forest, Illinois. |
| March 7-10 | 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 2014 contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 10. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 10. |
| March 10 | Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must exercise options for 2015 on all players who have option clauses in their 2014 contracts. |
| March 10 | Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must submit qualifying offers to their Restricted Free Agents with expiring contracts and to whom they desire to retain a Right of First Refusal/Compensation. |
| March 10 | Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must submit a Minimum Salary Tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2014 contracts and who have fewer than three accrued seasons of free agency credit. |
| March 10 | Top-51 Begins. All clubs must be under the 2015 salary cap prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time. |
| March 10 | All 2014 player contracts expire at 4:00 p.m., New York time. |
| March 10 | The 2015 league year and free agency period begin at 4:00 p.m., New York time. |
The first day of the 2015 league year will end at 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 10. Clubs will receive a personnel notice that will include all transactions submitted to the league office during the period between 4:00 p.m., New York time, and 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 10.
April 20
Rookie Football Development Program begins.
June 1
Rookie Symposium, Aurora, Ohio.
July 15
Veteran players (defined as a player with at least one pension- credited season) other than quarterbacks or "injured players" (as defined in CBA Article 21, Section 6) may report to a club's preseason training camp no earlier than 15 days prior to the club's first scheduled preseason game or July 15, whichever is later.
Veteran quarterbacks and injured players may be required to report to the club'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 reporting date. Players who join the roster after that date may practice (including wearing pads) and play immediately after passing a physical.
July 22*
July 22
