NFL Season Kicks Off Wednesday with Seahawks-Patriots Rematch

The 2026 NFL season is set to begin on Wednesday, September 9th, with a highly anticipated Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. This marks the second time in NBC Sports' history that the NFL Kickoff Game will be played on a Wednesday, a move NBC is promoting with a week-long "Race to Wednesday" campaign.

Fans can look forward to extensive coverage and analysis as the league officially gets underway. Docuseries like "Hard Knocks" have provided an inside look at teams like the Seahawks, the reigning champions, as they prepare for the new season. Meanwhile, teams like the Patriots are identifying their most crucial players for Week 1, and speculation continues around potential player unretirements, reminiscent of Aaron Donald's return to the Rams.