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The countdown is over. NFL training camp has arrived. Each team is 0-0, so there is hope in every city that this season ends with a championship parade.
Bryce Young and the defending NFC South champion Carolina Panthers report Wednesday. So do the Arizona Cardinals, led by rookie head coach Mike LaFleur. The teams will meet in the Hall of Fame game, which starts the preseason on August 6.
The reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots open camp on Friday. They will meet in a Super Bowl rematch to open the regular season on September 9.
Many teams have plenty of questions to answer before Week 1. It’s a long road to Los Angeles, which hosts Super Bowl 61 on Feb. 14. Valentine’s Day will be the latest date on which the match has been played.
It just means more football. Ten teams have new coaches. Some have new quarterbacks. A few superstars have switched teams.
Training camp starts
The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers report to camp on Saturday, making it six teams by the end of this week. The NFC West rivals play the first game of the regular season in Australia on September 10. The remaining 26 teams will play next Tuesday.
The head coaches in new places
John Harbaugh joined the New York Giants after he was fired by Baltimore after 18 seasons. He has Jaxson Dart and some talented players to build around.
Two-time AP NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski took over in Atlanta after six seasons in Cleveland. He inherits a team that has plenty of playmakers on offense, including All-Pro running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts. They need to find out if Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. must be a quarterback.
Robert Saleh is the new man in charge in Tennessee. The Titans are coming off back-to-back 3-14 seasons, but Saleh already has a franchise QB in Cam Ward, and he brought in Brian Daboll to develop him and run the offense.
Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers reunite in Pittsburgh. They won a Super Bowl together in Green Bay and are aiming to get the Steelers at least their first playoff win since January 2017.
The other six new head coaches are rookies. LaFleur has a tough task in Arizona. Klint Kubiak helped Sam Darnold win a Super Bowl in Seattle and hopes to rebuild the Las Vegas Raiders. Jeff Hafley went from running Green Bay’s defense to managing the Miami Dolphins. Joe Brady replaced Sean McDermott in Buffalo after the Bills kept falling short in the playoffs.
Todd Monken replaced Stefanski in Cleveland, and Jesse Minter is Baltimore’s new coach.
The quarterback carousel returns
Tagovailoa has a chance to revive his career with Stefanski in Atlanta after a disappointing finish in Miami. Kyler Murray left Arizona for Minnesota, where the Vikings hope he can stay healthy and regain his Pro Bowl form.
Kirk Cousins is the shortstop for the Raiders, who drafted Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick. Malik Willis parlayed three solid starts in two seasons with the Packers to a $67.5 million contract with the Dolphins that includes $45 million fully guaranteed.
Geno Smith returned to the Jets. Justin Fields is the new backup to Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City. Kenny Pickett is Carolina’s new No. 2, veteran Andy Dalton joined Philadelphia to play behind Jalen Hurts, and Gardner Minshew went to the Cardinals.
Multi-city quarterback contests
Tagovailoa and Penix will compete in Atlanta. Cousins is expected to start in Las Vegas, but Mendoza could end up starting sooner rather than later. Murray needs to knock out JJ McCarthy, who was the Vikings’ first round pick in 2024.
The most interesting battle will be for the Browns’ starting job. Deshaun Watson is back after missing 2025 to compete with Shedeur Sanders.
The other top stories
Will Baker Mayfield get a contract extension from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Mayfield is in the final season of a three-year, $100 million deal. He is expected to get around $55 million per year. season, and another three-year deal makes sense.
Will Aaron Donald come out of retirement to join two-time AP NFL defensive back Myles Garrett in Los Angeles? The Rams acquired the five-time All-Pro from the Browns and bolstered their secondary by adding cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Donald, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, is 35 and has not played since retiring after the 2023 season.
Common Practice
More teams are choosing to use practices against other opponents to prepare their quarterbacks and key starters for the regular season instead of preseason games.
Only the Lions, Chiefs, Broncos and Steelers do not participate in any joint sessions.
When are there cutbacks on the roster?
Teams can bring a maximum of 90 players during training camp and for all of their preseason games. Roster must be trimmed to 53 before 6 p.m. EDT on August 30.
Report from the Associated Press.
