Every September, the NFL signals the return of America’s favorite weekly tradition: football Sundays.
For fans, the start of the NFL season isn’t just a date on the calendar; it’s a cultural moment filled with renewed hopes, fantasy drafts, and the kind of anticipation that only pro football can bring.
So, when does the NFL season kick off, and what should fans realistically expect this year?
Key Points
- The NFL regular season kicks off in early September each year.
- The opening game traditionally features the reigning Super Bowl champion.
- Fans can expect new storylines, rookie debuts, and playoff implications from Week 1.
- Off-field entertainment—from fantasy football to betting platforms—continues to grow.
- Expanded schedules and international games bring even more variety to the season.
The Official NFL Kickoff Date
The 2025 NFL regular season will begin on Thursday, September 4, 2025, with the now-standard primetime kickoff game. This tradition started in 2002, allowing the defending Super Bowl champion to host the season’s very first matchup. It’s more than just a game, it’s a national event, with concerts, TV specials, and tailgates marking the official start of football’s five-month marathon.
For many fans, the season opener feels like New Year’s Day. Every team, regardless of last year’s struggles, enters September with a clean slate. The kickoff sets the tone, but it’s also just the first step in an 18-week regular season where momentum can shift overnight.
Football Meets Entertainment: Beyond the Game
The NFL has increasingly positioned its opening week as part-sports, part-entertainment spectacle. Halftime performances, special broadcasts, and pregame celebrations turn the kickoff into a hybrid of football and pop culture.
At the same time, the growth of fantasy leagues and legalized betting has created new ways to engage with the sport.
For many fans, the action extends beyond the field into platforms where predictions, wagers, and even digital gaming mirror the drama of Sunday afternoons. On some sites, audiences toggle between checking fantasy lineups and enjoying extras like casino slots and table games, reflecting how football now blends into broader leisure habits.
This merging of sports and entertainment makes the NFL opener less about one team winning and more about the full cultural package.
What to Expect From Week 1
Opening weekend offers more than just the Thursday night showcase. The full slate begins Sunday, stretching across early afternoon games, nationally televised late-afternoon matchups, and a marquee primetime clash. Monday Night Football closes out the opening week, and in recent years, the NFL has even doubled down with two Monday games to satisfy demand.
Fans can expect:
- High-profile rivalries: The league often saves divisional battles for Week 1, ensuring intensity from the start.
- Rookie debuts: Top draft picks make their first professional starts, creating instant intrigue.
- Early playoff signals: While it’s “just one game,” opening performances can foreshadow who’s for real.
- Shocks and upsets: Every year, at least one underdog sends shockwaves in Week 1.
The NFL knows its opening weekend must deliver drama, and it rarely disappoints.
Storylines Entering the Season
Every new season brings its own set of narratives, and 2025 is no different. Fans should be watching for:
- Quarterback shifts: With retirements and trades shaking up rosters, multiple teams will showcase new leaders under center.
- Rising defensive stars: In a league that often highlights quarterbacks, defensive talent is becoming a bigger storyline.
- Health and comebacks: Injuries changed playoff outcomes last year, so returning stars will be under the microscope.
- International growth: More games in London and Germany will shape how global audiences engage with football.
These stories ensure that even neutral fans have reasons to tune in from the very start.
The Lengthened NFL Season
Since 2021, the league has expanded its regular season to 18 weeks with 17 games per team. This change altered how both fans and franchises view the opening stretch. No longer can teams afford to stumble early, because an extra game has shifted playoff math.
The longer season also means Week 1 sets a more important rhythm. Hot starts build cushion; slow starts feel harder to recover from. Fans tracking playoff hopes and fantasy performance understand that September matters as much as December.
How Fans Can Prepare for Kickoff
The NFL kickoff isn’t just a date to watch—it’s an event to plan around. Fans can make the most of the opening by:
- Blocking the calendar – Thursday night is locked, but Sunday and Monday will demand attention, too.
- Setting up fantasy rosters – Many leagues draft in the week before the opener.
- Exploring new platforms – From streaming services to second-screen apps, options for watching are wider than ever.
- Tailgating at home – Even without a stadium ticket, food, drinks, and friends recreate the experience.
- Checking team schedules – Opening matchups often dictate interest in following through the season.
For diehards, these steps ensure the NFL opener feels like a personal holiday.
The Bigger Picture: NFL as a Year-Round Business
The season kickoff also highlights how the NFL has mastered staying relevant beyond game days. Between the Super Bowl, the Draft, offseason trades, and now September’s opener, the league has made sure that there’s always something for fans to follow.
Week 1 becomes the payoff for months of speculation and media buzz. Training camp battles, preseason highlights, and bold predictions all funnel into the September moment when everything starts to count.
In this sense, the NFL opener isn’t just about football beginning again; it’s the culmination of a carefully built year-round cycle.
Why Kickoff Matters More Than Ever
The answer to “When does the NFL season kick off?” is simple: the first Thursday of September, with the defending champion hosting. But the real story is what surrounds that moment – anticipation, spectacle, entertainment, and a reset for millions of fans.
This year, expect storylines ranging from fresh quarterback rivalries to new global audiences, along with all the cultural add-ons that make the NFL as much an entertainment empire as a sports league. For fans, Week 1 offers not only the return of football but also the promise of an unpredictable journey to February’s Super Bowl.
The kickoff is the spark, and from that moment on, Sundays – and plenty of Mondays and Thursdays – will belong once again to football.