Story by
What is the NFL's legal tampering period? Explaining the process before free agency begins
- Story by
- What is the NFL's legal tampering period? Explaining the process before free agency begins
Tampering, bad. Legal tampering, good.
The NFL's offseason is about to ramp up as the new league year is within reach. Free agency is just around the corner, but legal tampering is up first.
It's a two-day window before everything becomes real and official.
Advertisement
However, the concept is a little on the funky side. The negotiating window often brings excitement – given all the new additions to teams across the league. It also comes with some anxiety and uncertainty since nothing is final until the ink dries.
That song and dance is just the beginning. Anything can happen in those 52 hours before the calendar officially flips to the 2025 season. Here's what that means, as well as more about the NFL legal tampering period.
NFL FREE AGENCY BEST FITS: Top landing spots for the 25 best available players
What is the NFL tampering period?
The NFL tampering period is the pregame to free agency . At that point, it's all talk. Teams can chat with agents and agree to terms, but there will be no pen-to-paper or finger to the tablet from the player to make the deal official.
Advertisement
It's a process that begins at 12 p.m. ET on Monday, March 10 and ends when the new league year begins on Wednesday, March 12 at 4 p.m. ET.
The league introduced the concept in 2012 in an effort to cut down on the backroom deals taking place before free agency officially started. Of course, that's not to say those conversations aren't still happening, but they would be against league rules. Regardless, nothing can be official until that two-day window closes.
Here's how the NFL describes the negotiating window :
"The purpose of the two-day negotiating period is to create a level playing field in the competition for Unrestricted Free Agents by permitting clubs to negotiate with the certified agents of such players concerning all aspects of an NFL Player Contract."
Advertisement
In other words, the tampering period is like getting engaged. Sure, it's a bad look to back out, but those marriage vows mean nothing until each party says, "I do," and the paperwork is finalized. Until then, you're still on the market – even if the world looks at the concept negatively.
Luckily for most NFL teams and marriages, that doesn't happen often. Typically, the engagement between player and team leads to a marriage of sorts before an inevitable divorce down the road.
When does NFL legal tampering begin?
The NFL's legal tampering period officially begins at 12 p.m. ET on Monday, March 10, 2025.
Advertisement
Agents can then negotiate deals on behalf of their clients and agree to terms with teams. However, those contracts won't become official until they can be signed, beginning on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 4 p.m. ET.
What are the NFL legal tampering rules?
The rules of legal tampering mostly surround communication with players. The league has outlined that teams can only speak with agents and not directly with players.
As a result, players also cannot visit a team's facility. Of course, the most significant rule is that contracts can't be signed during this time.
Players looking to do a little more due diligence will have to wait until legal tampering comes to a close.
Advertisement
MORE: NFL machine remains in motion with free agency, draft upcoming
When does NFL legal tampering end?
The NFL's legal tampering period ends when the new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
When does NFL free agency start?
NFL free agency will begin at the start of the new league year on Wednesday, March 12, at 4 p.m. ET. This is when contracts can become official and signed.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is the NFL's legal tampering period? Date, time, rules
