This piece highlights a “By the Numbers” approach to breaking down the season, turning preseason data into a numerical guide to the upcoming year. Here are the key figures and trends that fans should know.
New Faces in New Places
– 10: A large portion of teams, nearly one-third of the league, will have a new head coach in 2026. Among those taking their first head coaching jobs are Mike LaFleur (Cardinals), Jesse Minter (Ravens), Joe Brady (Bills), Todd Monken (Browns), Klint Kubiak (Raiders), and Jeff Hafley (Dolphins). Returning to head coaching roles after previous firings are Robert Saleh (Titans), Kevin Stefanski (Falcons), John Harbaugh (Giants), and Mike McCarthy (Steelers).
– 6: At least six teams will start the season with a new quarterback in 2026. The Jets will start Geno Smith, the Dolphins Malik Willis, the Browns Deshaun Watson, the Raiders Kirk Cousins/Fernando Mendoza, the Vikings Kyler Murray, and the Falcons Tua Tagovailoa.
– 5: Five trades involving former NFL All-Pro players occurred this offseason. Notable names moving teams include Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie, A.J. Brown, and Minkah Fitzpatrick as First-Teamers, with Dexter Lawrence earning Second-Team honors.
A Year of Firsts
– 1: For the first time, one NFL game will be played in Australia. The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will open their season in Melbourne.
– 9: A record number of international games will be played in a single season, with nine contests abroad.
– 119: The league is transitioning to a digital measuring system as the primary method for official measurement, ending the 119-year era of the traditional chain gang.
– 0: No rookie quarterbacks are expected to start in Week 1 for the first time since 2022.
– 61: Alabama and Ohio State are tied with 61 active NFL players, marking the first time since 2018 that Alabama is not the sole program with the most players on an NFL roster at Week 1. (In 2018, Miami led with the most players.)
Father Time
– 42: The oldest player in the league is Aaron Rodgers at age 42.
– 32: Derrick Henry has posted multiple 1,500+ rushing-yard seasons; if he reaches 1,500+ again in 2026 at age 32, he would become the oldest player to reach that milestone.
– 25.0: The Miami Dolphins have the youngest average team age at 25 years.
– 27.1: The Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons are the oldest teams by average age at 27.1 years.
– 26.4: The middle of the pack in average age includes the Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, and New York Giants with an average age of 26.4.
– 32: There is a 32-year age gap between the oldest and youngest NFL head coaches. The oldest is Andy Reid at 68; the youngest is Joe Brady at 36.
It’s All About the Money
– 5.83: The league set a record with teams spending a combined $5.83 billion in free agency, with nearly half of that amount guaranteed.
– 66: There are 66 players with contracts worth at least $100 million. Of those, 21 exceed $200 million, and only two surpass $300 million (Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes).
– 20: Of the 66 eight-figure deals, 20 were signed in the offseason. Notably, Patrick Mahomes reworked his contract to $504 million over eight years ($63 million per year), while Nick Herbig and Peter Skoronski signed four-year, $100 million deals ($25 million per year).
– 208: The Rams acquired Myles Garrett in a trade, making him the first non-quarterback to sign a contract worth more than $200 million. The deal is worth $208 million over five seasons ($41.6 million per year).
– 8: Eight players became the highest-paid at their position this offseason: Patrick Mahomes (QB), Myles Garrett (Edge), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR), Jahmyr Gibbs (RB), Tyler Linderbaum (C), Darnell Wright (RT), Devon Witherspoon (CB), and Brandon Aubrey (K).
Other Numbers to Know
– 3: The season opener features a rematch of the previous Super Bowl, marking the third time in NFL history that a season opener is a rematch of the big game (following occurrences in 1970 and 2016).
– 4: Week 1 will feature four primetime games: opening night on Wednesday, followed by Thursday (Rams vs. 49ers), Sunday (Cowboys vs. Giants), and Monday (Broncos vs. Chiefs). Exactly one-quarter of the league will begin the season under primetime lighting.
– 4: Only four Week 1 games feature a spread of 4+ points. The Eagles are favored by 4.5 over the Commanders, the Lions by 7 over the Saints, the Jaguars by 7.5 over the Browns, and the Chargers by 10.5 over the Cardinals.
– 161: The average get-in price for a Week 1 NFL game is $161. The Titans vs. Jets is the cheapest at $23, while the season opener between the Seahawks and Patriots has a get-in price of $305.
This overview captures the essential numbers shaping the 2026 NFL season, from coaching changes and quarterback shuffles to financial milestones and schedule notes. The season promises a mix of fresh leadership, high-stakes contracts, international games, and compelling matchups right from Week 1.
