NFL 2025 Preseason Schedule unveiled: Key matchups and rookie spotlights

| American Football | 05/30/2025

The National Football League’s 2025 preseason schedule promises intrigue, with 49 games across four weeks offering glimpses of high-profile rookies, quarterback battles, and strategic experimentation ahead of the September 4 regular-season kickoff.

Hall of Fame game sets the tone
The preseason opens July 31 with the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, featuring the L.A. Chargers and Detroit Lions at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. This marquee matchup honors the league’s newest inductees while giving fans an early look at refreshed rosters.

Week 1: Coast-to-coast clashes
Week 1 (August 7–10) includes the Cleveland Browns at Carolina Panthers (August 8), where the Browns’ four-quarterback competition—headlined by rookie Shedeur Sanders—will draw attention. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers at Jacksonville Jaguars (August 9) could debut Travis Hunter, the Jaguars’ two-way second overall pick, and fuel speculation about Aaron Rodgers’ potential signing with Pittsburgh.

Week 2: Interconference battles
In Week 2 (August 15–18), the Tennessee Titans at Atlanta Falcons (August 15) offers snaps for Titans’ No. 1 pick Cam Ward and Falcons’ 2024 first-rounder Michael Penix Jr. The San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas Raiders (August 16) debuts Raiders QB Geno Smith and 49ers rookie RB Ashton Jeanty, while Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints (August 17) spotlights Hunter’s dual-role usage and Saints’ rookie QB Tyler Shough.

Week 3: Final tune-ups
Week 3 (August 21–23) features the New England Patriots at N.Y. Giants (August 21), where Giants’ QB trio (Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, Jaxson Dart) will dominate headlines. The Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans (August 22) on CBS pits Titans’ Ward against Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy, whose 2024 injury limited his rookie preseason action.
The Chicago Bears at Kansas City Chiefs (August 22) showcases Bears’ rookie QB Caleb Williams with new targets Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III, while L.A. Rams at Cleveland Browns (August 23) revisits the Browns’ QB logjam, including Sanders’ developmental arc.

Preseason storylines to watch

  • Quarterback competitions: Cleveland’s Shedeur Sanders (August 8, 23) and Indianapolis Colts’ Anthony Richardson vs. Daniel Jones (August 23 at Cincinnati Bengals) could shape regular-season depth charts.
  • Rookie debuts: Travis Hunter (August 9, 17), Tetairoa McMillan (Panthers WR, August 8), and Ashton Jeanty (49ers RB, August 16) headline a deep class.
  • Veteran transitions: Geno Smith (Raiders, August 16) and Russell Wilson (Giants, August 21) adapt to new systems.

Strategic evaluations
Teams will prioritize roster cuts (deadline: August 27) and scheme refinement. The Steelers’ handling of a potential Rodgers signing, the Giants’ QB hierarchy, and the Bears’ offensive overhaul under Ben Johnson will be scrutinized.

With no regular-season stakes, the preseason’s value lies in developmental reps and fan curiosity—particularly for Cleveland’s unprecedented QB drama and Hunter’s two-way experiment. As franchises balance risk and evaluation, these games set the stage for September’s grind.

American Football International is your source for news and updates about American Football outside the United States!