July 22: Signing period ends at 4:00 PM ET for unrestricted free agents to whom June 1 tender was made by old club, transition players, and franchise players who are eligible to receive offer sheets. After this date and through 4:00 PM ET on November 11, old club has exclusive negotiating rights to these players.
August 7-9: Pro Football Hall of Fame Weekend.
August 9: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio: Denver vs. Washington.
August 10: If a drafted rookie has not signed with his club by this date, he may not be traded to any other club in 2004.
August 10: Deadline for players under contract to report in order to earn a season of free agency credit.
August 12-16: First preseason weekend.
August 14-18: Deadline for club to provide written notice to certain unsigned players and the NFLPA of its intent to place them on the exempt list if they fail to report no later than one day prior to the club's second preseason game. Any player who fails to report prior to the deadline will be ineligible to play or receive compensation for at least three games (preseason or regular season) from the time that he reports.
August 19-23: Second preseason weekend.
August 26-30: Third preseason weekend.
August 31: Roster cutdown to maximum of 65 players on active list by 4:00 PM ET.
September 2-3: Fourth preseason weekend.
September 5: Roster cutdown to maximum of 53 players on active/inactive list by 4:00 PM ET. Exemptions granted to NFL Europe League players expire at this time. Clubs may dress minimum of 42 and maximum of 45 players and third quarterback for each regular-season and postseason game.
September 6: After 12:00 PM ET, clubs may establish a practice squad of eight players by signing free agents who do not have an accrued season of free agency credit or who were on the active/inactive list for less than nine regular-season games during their only accrued season(s). A player cannot participate on the practice squad for more than two seasons.
September 9-13: Kickoff 2004 Weekend.
September 28: Priority on multiple waiver claims is now based on the current season's standing.
October 19: All trading ends at 4:00 PM ET.
November 16: Deadline for clubs to sign by 4:00 PM ET their unsigned franchise and transition players. If still unsigned after this date, such players are prohibited from playing in NFL in 2004.
November 16: Deadline for clubs to sign by 4:00 PM ET their unrestricted free agents to whom June 1 tender was made. If still unsigned after this date, such players are prohibited from playing in NFL in 2004.
November 16: Deadline for clubs to sign by 4:00 PM ET their restricted free agents to whom June 1 tender was made. If such players remain unsigned, they are prohibited from playing in NFL in 2004.
November 16: Deadline for clubs to sign drafted players by 4:00 PM ET. If such players remain unsigned, they are prohibited from playing in NFL in 2004.
2005
January 2: Final regular-season weekend.
January 8-9: Wild Card Playoffs.
January 15-16: Divisional Playoffs.
January 23: Conference Championships.
February 6: Super Bowl XXXIX, ALLTEL Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida.
