Chiefs offseason: calendar of events and dates to know

Kansas City Chiefs fans have been through a lot of uncharted territory during the last few weeks.

Getting to the Super Bowl, going through the seemingly endless two weeks between the AFC title game and the championship, finishing the season without a painful loss — and finally, the celebration the team had in downtown Kansas City on Wednesday were all new experiences for most of us.

But all of that is now behind us. The 2020 offseason is now underway.

Let’s look at some of the important dates on the calendar over the next couple of months:

February 24 — March 2

NFL Scouting Combine, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana.

February 25

First day for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

March 10

Prior to 3 p.m. Arrowhead Time, teams must designate Franchise or Transition Players.

March 16 — 18

Beginning at 3:00 p.m. Arrowhead Time, the legal tampering period begins. Clubs may contact and negotiate with pending unrestricted free agents.

March 18

Prior to 3 p.m. Arrowhead Time:

• Teams must exercise 2020 options on all players who have option clauses in their 2019 contracts. Clubs must submit qualifying offers to their restricted free agents with expiring contracts.
• The top 51 players for each team must be under the 2020 salary cap.

Beginning at 3 p.m. Arrowhead Time:

• 2019 player contracts expire.
• 2020 league year and free agency period begins.
• 2020 trading period begins.

March 29 — April 1

Annual league meeting in Palm Beach, Florida.

April 6

Teams that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2019 regular season may begin offseason workout programs.

April 17

Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.

April 20

All other teams may begin offseason workout programs.

April 23 — 25

NFL Draft in Las Vegas, Nevada.

April 27

NFL teams may request permission to visit with, try out, or sign any player who was under contract to the XFL at the conclusion of the XFL season.

Down the road

Rookie minicamp will be in May. Training camp will begin in mid-July. The preseason will open on August 6. The regular season will start on September 10. Super Bowl LV will be on February 7 in Tampa, Florida.

As Andy Reid would say... let’s go!