2026 Season Kickoff: The Rematch
Patriots at Seahawks: Super Bowl LX, Round 2
Seven months after their defense embarrassed Drake Maye and the Patriots in Super Bowl LX, the Seahawks open their title defense against the same team on the annual NFL Kickoff Game — the first season-opening Super Bowl rematch since 2016. Sam Darnold returns to a Klint Kubiak-less offense after his offensive coordinator left for the Raiders head-coaching job. Drake Maye and the Patriots return nearly intact, with Mike Vrabel's group determined to finish what they couldn't at Levi's Stadium.
Mahomes' $504M Deal: The First Half-Billion Contract
Patrick Mahomes becomes the first $500M NFL contract
The Chiefs added two years to Mahomes' existing deal, taking total value to $504.75 million — the first NFL contract ever valued above half a billion dollars. New money begins in 2027 at a record $64 million AAV, passing Dak Prescott's current $60M mark. First four years of the new structure are guaranteed at signing; incentives and escalators can push total value to $522.25M. The deal comes as Mahomes rehabs from a torn ACL and LCL suffered on December 14, 2025 — a season-ending injury that helped drop the Chiefs to 6-11 and out of the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Super Bowl LX Recap
Seahawks dominate Patriots 29-13
The Seahawks rode a suffocating "Dark Side" defense to their second Super Bowl title in franchise history (first since the 2013 season), sacking Drake Maye six times and forcing three turnovers. Kicker Jason Myers set a Super Bowl record with five field goals, and running back Kenneth Walker III rushed for 135 yards on 27 carries to claim MVP honors — the first running back to win the award since Terrell Davis in Super Bowl XXXII. Sam Darnold added 202 passing yards and a 16-yard touchdown to AJ Barner. The Seahawks celebrated with a ring ceremony at team headquarters on June 11, 2026.
2026 NFL Draft Recap
2026 NFL Draft: All 257 Picks, Made
The 91st annual NFL Draft is in the books. Pittsburgh hosted for the first time since 1948, with Acrisure Stadium and Point State Park serving as the backdrop. Las Vegas opened the draft by selecting Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman winner, who signed a record $57.3M fully guaranteed rookie deal. New Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak — the former Seahawks OC who orchestrated Sam Darnold's Super Bowl run — will oversee Mendoza's development alongside veteran signing Kirk Cousins. Ohio State produced four first-round picks in the top 11, and nine offensive linemen went in Round 1, the most in over two decades.
| Pick | Player | Pos | Team | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fernando Mendoza Indiana · 2025 Heisman |
QB | Las Vegas Raiders | A |
| 2 | David Bailey Texas Tech |
EDGE | New York Jets | A |
| 3 | Jeremiyah Love Notre Dame |
RB | Arizona Cardinals | B+ |
| 4 | Carnell Tate Ohio State |
WR | Tennessee Titans | A− |
| 5 | Arvell Reese Ohio State |
EDGE | New York Giants | B+ |
Fantasy Football 2026
NFL Player Stats & Salaries
NFL Trades & Free Agency 2026
Super Bowl LXI Preview & 2026 Season
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 2026 NFL season start?
The 2026 NFL season opens on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, with the defending Super Bowl LX champion Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots at 8:20 PM ET on NBC and Peacock — a rematch of Super Bowl LX. Week 1 continues with the 49ers at the Rams in Australia on Thursday Sept 10 (Netflix), a full Sunday slate on Sept 13, and closes with Broncos at Chiefs on Monday Night Football (Sept 14, 8:15 PM ET, ABC/ESPN).
Is Patrick Mahomes the highest-paid NFL player in 2026?
Patrick Mahomes signed a reworked contract on June 10, 2026 worth $504.75 million through the 2033 season — the first NFL contract ever valued at more than $500 million. New money begins in 2027 at an average of $64 million per year, which will be the highest annual salary in NFL history. For the 2026 season only, Dak Prescott's $60 million average annual value with the Dallas Cowboys remains the top figure among quarterbacks.
Who won Super Bowl LX in 2026?
The Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl LX, defeating the New England Patriots 29-13 on February 8, 2026 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It was the Seahawks' second Super Bowl title (first since the 2013 season) and the first postseason since 2014 without the Kansas City Chiefs. Running back Kenneth Walker III was named Super Bowl MVP after rushing for 135 yards — the first running back to win the award since Terrell Davis in Super Bowl XXXII.
Who was picked first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Las Vegas Raiders selected Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, held April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, became the first Indiana player drafted in the first round since 1994 and signed a record-breaking $57.3 million fully guaranteed four-year contract with a $38.1 million signing bonus. He now joins new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak — the former Seahawks offensive coordinator during their Super Bowl LX run — and veteran signing Kirk Cousins in Las Vegas.
What is the NFL salary cap for 2026?
The NFL salary cap for the 2026 season is $301.2 million per team — the first time the cap has exceeded $300 million. That is a $22 million jump from the 2025 cap of $279.2 million, driven largely by the league's $113 billion media rights deal with Amazon, ESPN, Fox, CBS, and NBC. Total projected player costs including benefits reach $378.8 million per club.
Where can I follow NFL 2026 live scores and updates?
You can follow NFL 2026 live scores, game updates, and results in the NFL Scores section of this site, with real-time game information, team performance, and weekly recaps.
How are NFL standings determined?
NFL standings are based on team win-loss records, with tie-breakers including head-to-head results, division record, common-opponent record, conference record, strength of victory, and points scored. Each conference sends seven teams to the playoffs: four division winners (seeded 1-4) and three wild cards.
How many teams are in the NFL?
There are 32 teams in the NFL, divided into two conferences — the AFC and NFC — each with four divisions of four teams. The 2026 regular season runs 17 games per team starting Wednesday, September 9, 2026, followed by the wild card round, divisional round, conference championships, and Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Who are the highest-paid NFL players in 2026?
Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys leads all NFL players in 2026 by average annual value at $60 million, becoming the first player to break the $60M AAV barrier. Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, Jordan Love, and Matthew Stafford are all tied at $55 million AAV. Jared Goff and Brock Purdy sit at $53M, Justin Herbert at $52.5M, Lamar Jackson at $52M, and Jalen Hurts at $51M — with 11 quarterbacks now averaging $50M+. Patrick Mahomes' reworked contract of $504.75 million (first ever above $500M total value) reset the market on June 10, 2026, and his new-money AAV of $64 million begins in 2027.
Who was the regular season MVP for the 2025 NFL season?
Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams was named the 2025 NFL regular-season Most Valuable Player, edging Patriots quarterback Drake Maye by a single first-place vote (24 to 23). Stafford led the NFL with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns, guided the Rams to a 12-5 record, and reached the NFC Championship Game, where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
How often is NFL data updated on this page?
NFL scores, standings, fantasy rankings, and trade news are updated daily during the season and weekly during the offseason. Salary and contract data is sourced from Spotrac and OverTheCap and refreshed when new deals are signed.