Key Upcoming Dates for Bears and the NFL

The calendar for the first few months of the 2023 offseason, including the combine, draft and free agency.

The great reboot begins on Monday in the NFL as they are finishing with next-day interviews of coaches and MVPs.

Everything starts anew.

For the Bears, the offseason schedule takes on greater significance than the past because of their position atop the draft and also the available salary cap space. 

There is one other first the Bears enjoy, for at least the first few weeks of the regular season.

Here is the early offseason NFL calendar.

Feb. 13

The waiver system begins anew for 2023. The Bears will have first dibs on all players waived who have four vested seasons or less. There is a 24-hour claiming period in effect through the Friday prior to the final regular season game. This runs through the end of the third week of the 2023 season. Then the waiver order is determined by record for the rest of the 2023 season starting with the Tuesday after Week 3 games.

Feb. 21

Beginning this date through 3 p.m. on March 7 teams can designate franchise or transition free agents.

Feb. 28

The NFL Scouting Combine begins in Locas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis. It runs through March 6.

March 7

• Deadline at 3 p.m. for players to be designated with franchise or transition tags. For the Bears, this matters this season because it could determine some of the free agents they can sign or can't sign.
• Pro day workouts begin at colleges for draft-eligible players. Teams can have private meetings and interviews with draft-eligible players. The Bears and other teams can also begin allowing players to visit their practice facility. A total of 30 non-local players are allowed for visits and also physical exams. However, they are not allowed on-field workouts except at the combine or pro days. These will run through April 19.
• Teams can begin video or telepone interviews with players in the draft. There are limits. They have until April 26 and the video or phone interviews can be no longer than one hour. Also, each player is limited to three with a team.   

March 13

At 11 a.m. begins the so-called "legal tampering" period. Teams can contact agents for unrestricted free agent players and enter into contract negotiations. No contracts can be signed.

March 15

•  At 2:59:59 p.m. the legal tampering period ends. At 3 p.m. all existing contracts of potential unrestricted free agents end. All free agents can begin signing contracts. 
• Teams have until 3 p.m. to submit qualifying offers to restricted free agents in order to get compensation and/or right of first refusal. They also must submit a minimum salary tender to exclusive right free agents by 3 p.m.  
• At 3 p.m. the top 51 rule goes into effect. That means all teams' top 51 salaries must add up to a figure at or below the salary cap.
• Teams can designate one or two players whose terminated contracts can be given post-June 1 designation.

• The new league year officially begins at 3 p.m. and teams are allowed to begin trading players.

March 26

The annual league meeting is held in Phoenix and runs through the 29th.

April 3

Teams that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2022 regular season can start offseason workout programs.

April 17

The Bears and other teams with returning head coaches can start their offseason workout programs.

April 19

Deadline for teams to visit with players or give physical exams to draft-eligible player at its their practice facility.

April 21

Deadline for all restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.

April 26

Deadline for teams to exercise right of first refusal to restricted free agents.

April 27

Deadline for teams to visit with players, test or give physical exams to draft-eligible player at any location.

April 27-29

2023 NFL Draft, Kansas City, MO.

May 1

• Deadline for a prior club to send May 1 tender to unsigned unrestricted free agents. If the player does not sign a contract by July 22 or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp he must negotiate or sign a contract until the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, at 3 p.m. only with his prior club.

• Deadline to exercise fifth-year option for players selected in the first round of the 2020 Draft.

May 5-8

First weekend teams have as an option for holding a three-day post-draft rookie minicamp.

May 12-15

Second weekend teams have as an option for holding a three-day post-draft rookie minicamp.

May 22-24

League spring meetings.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven