The 2026 NFL season will kick off with a highly anticipated Super Bowl rematch. The Seattle Seahawks, led by quarterback Sam Darnold and head coach Mike Macdonald, will host the New England Patriots, under the direction of Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye, on September 9. This game will mark the first of the season's 272 contests, as the Seahawks raise their championship banner following their dominant 29-13 victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl LX.
Historic Opening Weekend
This marks just the third time in NFL history that the teams from the previous Super Bowl face off in Week 1. The last instance occurred in 2016 when the Denver Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers. In 2024, the Philadelphia Eagles followed their Super Bowl win with a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2. NFL executive Hans Schroeder noted, "Yes, it was definitely a key data point for us. We saw what a big draw that was, and we thought it was a fun way to start the season again."
The season opener will be held on a Wednesday for only the second time in league history. This game also marks Vrabel's first since the reigning AP Coach of the Year missed the third day of the draft after photos emerged of him with NFL reporter Dianna Russini, leading to her resignation from The Athletic.
International Games Expansion
The NFL will play a record nine international games across four continents. The San Francisco 49ers will face the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, on September 10. Other international matchups include the 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings in Mexico City, the Jacksonville Jaguars with consecutive games in London, the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints in Paris, the Dallas Cowboys vs. Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro, the Cincinnati Bengals vs. Atlanta Falcons in Madrid, and the New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions in Munich.
Key Week 1 Matchups
- Sunday Night Football: Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants
- Monday Night Football: Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs
- Las Vegas Raiders vs. Miami Dolphins: Fans will see No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, likely backing up Kirk Cousins.
Thanksgiving and Holiday Games
Thanksgiving night features Josh Allen's Buffalo Bills hosting Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. The Bears-Lions and Eagles-Cowboys games were previously announced. Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers host the Broncos on Black Friday, while the Packers and Rams play on Thanksgiving Eve. On Christmas Eve, the Eagles host the Texans, and Christmas Day features a tripleheader: Packers-Bears, Bills-Broncos, and Rams-Seahawks.
