NFL 2026 Season Preview: Teams to Watch, Biggest Storylines & Fan Gear for the New Season
The Seattle Seahawks enter the 2026 NFL season as defending Super Bowl champions
Football is almost back.
After months of trades, roster changes, draft debates and Super Bowl predictions, the 2026 NFL season is finally close enough for fans to start counting down the days.
And this season will not ease into the action.
The regular season officially begins on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, when the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots at Lumen Field. It is an immediate rematch of Super Bowl LX, where Seattle defeated New England to capture its second Lombardi Trophy.
Less than 24 hours later, another piece of NFL history will be made when the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams meet at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia.
New stars have changed teams. Contenders have reloaded. Former champions are trying to return to the top.
Here is what fans should know before kickoff.
When Does the 2026 NFL Season Start?
The 2026 NFL regular season begins on September 9 with Patriots vs. Seahawks.
Seattle will raise its championship banner at home before facing the team it defeated in February.
Week 1 then delivers several major matchups:
- New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks — September 9
- San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne — September 10
- Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants — September 13
- Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs — September 14
The Melbourne matchup is especially significant because it will be the first NFL regular-season game played in Australia. It is part of a record nine international games scheduled across four continents during the 2026 season.
The 2026 NFL season opens with a Super Bowl LX rematch between New England and Seattle.
The Biggest Storylines Heading Into the 2026 NFL Season
A new NFL season always produces surprises, but several storylines already stand above the rest.
Can Seattle Win Back-to-Back Super Bowls?
Seattle enters September with the biggest target in football.
The Seahawks return quarterback Sam Darnold, star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and much of the core that powered their Super Bowl run.
But one major piece is gone.
Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III left Seattle during the offseason and joined Kansas City, leaving the Seahawks with an important question in the backfield.
Winning one Super Bowl is difficult.
Winning two in a row means surviving an entire season in which every opponent wants to beat the champion.
Seattle gets to find out what that feels like immediately.
Their first opponent?
The team they beat in the Super Bowl.
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Can the Patriots Turn a Super Bowl Run Into Something Bigger?
New England’s 2025 campaign changed expectations dramatically.
The Patriots finished the regular season 14-3 and advanced all the way to Super Bowl LX.
Now they have added another major weapon.
New England acquired star wide receiver A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles, giving quarterback Drake Maye a proven No. 1 receiver entering the new season. The trade sent a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder to Philadelphia.
The question is no longer whether the Patriots can become relevant again.
It is whether last season was the beginning of another sustained run.
Their opening-night trip to Seattle should provide a fascinating first answer.
A.J. Brown gives New England another major offensive weapon for 2026.
The Rams Are Going All-In
Few teams created more offseason noise than the Los Angeles Rams.
Their biggest move was one of the biggest trades anywhere in the league.
Los Angeles acquired reigning AP Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett from Cleveland, sending Jared Verse and significant draft capital to the Browns.
It is a classic win-now move.
The Rams already have an experienced roster capable of competing deep into January. Adding one of football’s most disruptive defensive players raises the ceiling even further.
There is another incentive waiting at the end of the season.
Super Bowl LXI will be played at SoFi Stadium.
For Los Angeles, the dream scenario could not be clearer: reach the Super Bowl and compete for the Lombardi Trophy in its own stadium.
The Rams made one of the offseason’s biggest moves by acquiring Myles Garrett.
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Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs Have Something to Prove
Kansas City enters 2026 from an unfamiliar position.
Instead of defending another championship, the Chiefs are trying to re-establish themselves among the AFC’s elite.
That conversation begins with Patrick Mahomes.
Kansas City’s success has been tied to Mahomes for years, and a healthy return immediately changes the way the AFC picture looks.
The Chiefs also made an intriguing move by adding former Seattle running back Kenneth Walker III, bringing another explosive option into the offense.
And there is no gentle opening assignment.
Kansas City begins the regular season against Denver on Monday Night Football.
Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City enter 2026 looking to climb back toward the top of the AFC.
Eight NFL Teams Worth Watching in 2026
Preseason predictions rarely survive an entire NFL season.
Injuries happen.
Young players emerge faster than expected.
Favorites fall apart.
A team almost nobody predicted inevitably becomes part of the playoff conversation.
Instead of pretending the postseason bracket can already be predicted in August, these are eight teams worth following closely.
1. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have made their intentions obvious.
Adding Myles Garrett to a veteran roster gives Los Angeles one of the most compelling championship cases entering the season.
2. Seattle Seahawks
The defending champions remain one of the teams everyone else has to chase.
The challenge now is turning one championship season into sustained dominance.
3. Denver Broncos
Denver enters the year with one of the AFC’s strongest recent foundations after a 14-win 2025 campaign.
Their opening game against Kansas City should immediately tell us something about the balance of power in the AFC West.
4. Buffalo Bills
As long as Josh Allen is leading Buffalo, the Bills will remain part of the championship discussion.
The bigger question is whether this is finally the season Buffalo converts years of contention into a Lombardi Trophy.
Buffalo begins another season searching for the breakthrough its fan base has been waiting for.
5. Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia enters a different era after sending A.J. Brown to New England.
The Eagles still possess a talented roster, but how they reshape their offense without one of its most recognizable playmakers will be one of the NFC’s more interesting stories.
6. Baltimore Ravens
Any team built around Lamar Jackson has an extremely high ceiling.
If Baltimore finds consistency on both sides of the ball, the Ravens can quickly return to the center of the AFC conversation.
7. Dallas Cowboys
There may be no NFL offseason without Dallas generating debate.
The Cowboys enter another year with major expectations and start the season under the lights against the New York Giants.
Whether the optimism lasts into January is another matter entirely.
8. New England Patriots
The reigning AFC champions now have an even more dangerous receiving option in A.J. Brown.
What happens next will tell us whether 2025 was an extraordinary run or the first chapter of something much bigger.
Four Week 1 Games You Should Circle Right Now
Patriots at Seahawks
Wednesday, September 9
A Super Bowl rematch to begin the season requires almost no additional marketing.
Seattle celebrates its championship.
New England returns to the place where the title defense begins.
And the 2026 season immediately has unfinished business.
49ers vs. Rams
Thursday, September 10 — Melbourne, Australia
Historic venue.
NFC West rivalry.
A dramatically upgraded Rams roster.
The first NFL regular-season game in Australia should feel more like an event than a typical Week 1 matchup.
The 49ers and Rams will make NFL history at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Cowboys at Giants
Sunday, September 13
Dallas versus New York rarely needs additional drama.
Put one of the NFL’s most recognizable rivalries on Sunday Night Football in Week 1 and the atmosphere takes care of itself.
Broncos at Chiefs
Monday, September 14
This could be one of the most informative games of opening weekend.
Denver enters with championship aspirations.
Kansas City wants to prove it belongs back among the AFC favorites.
And Patrick Mahomes potentially returning to the spotlight makes the matchup even bigger.
Who Are the Early Super Bowl Contenders?
August is far too early to crown anyone.
A better way to look at the field is through tiers.
The Front-Line Contenders
Los Angeles Rams
An aggressive roster built to compete now.
Seattle Seahawks
The defending Super Bowl champions.
Denver Broncos
A talented AFC roster coming off an excellent regular season.
Serious Challengers
Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen keeps Buffalo dangerous.
Baltimore Ravens
A high-ceiling roster centered around Lamar Jackson.
Philadelphia Eagles
Still loaded with talent despite significant offseason change.
Teams That Could Change the Conversation
New England Patriots
The AFC champions just added A.J. Brown.
Kansas City Chiefs
Never easy to dismiss when Mahomes is healthy.
Dallas Cowboys
Plenty of talent and plenty to prove.
By December, this list will almost certainly look different.
That is exactly the point.
NFL Fan Culture Goes Far Beyond the Final Score
For millions of supporters, football fandom extends far beyond what happens on the field.
For millions of people, football season is not just the game.
It is the Sunday routine.
The watch party.
The fantasy football group chat.
The jersey that comes out every weekend.
The lucky hat nobody is allowed to touch during a winning streak.
The collectibles lined up in the fan cave.
Supporting a team has become part of personal style, which is why modern football merchandise goes far beyond traditional jerseys.
Fans increasingly mix team identity into everyday clothing, footwear, collectibles, home displays and personalized products.
Fresh Ways to Show Your Team Pride in 2026
Personalized Football Gear
A custom name, number or meaningful year can make fan apparel feel more personal than standard merchandise.
For some fans, that means their surname.
For others, it might be a favorite number, memorable season or family tradition.
Personalization is especially useful when shopping for someone who already owns the obvious team essentials.
Game-Day Sneakers
A jersey is not the only way to wear team colors.
Team-inspired sneakers can work with jeans, hoodies, shorts or neutral outfits while still making the connection to a favorite franchise obvious.
They are also an easy choice for fans who want football gear they can wear outside the stadium.
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Collectibles for the Fan Cave
Not every football fan wants another piece of clothing.
Building sets, figures, ornaments, display pieces and other collectibles can bring fandom into:
- Home offices
- Shelves
- Desks
- Game rooms
- Home bars
- Fan caves
The most memorable collectible usually connects to something specific — a favorite franchise, a season, a championship or simply a design that feels different from standard merchandise.
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Pittsburgh Steelers New NFL Quilted Tracksuit 2026
Gifts for the Fan Who Already Has Everything
Buying for a serious NFL fan can be surprisingly difficult.
They probably already have a jersey.
Maybe three.
Instead of asking:
“What NFL jersey should I buy?”
try asking:
“What would this fan never think to buy for themselves?”
That can lead to much more interesting ideas:
- Personalized sneakers
- Team-inspired collectibles
- Limited-edition display pieces
- Holiday ornaments
- Drinkware
- Custom apparel
- Seasonal fan gifts
Football and Christmas Are Getting Closer Than You Think
The NFL season does not end when the holiday shopping season begins.
It runs straight through it.
Christmas Day football, holiday watch parties and team gift exchanges create a natural overlap between football fandom and Christmas shopping.
That makes products such as:
- NFL Christmas sweaters
- Team ornaments
- Personalized gifts
- Fan collectibles
- Football-themed footwear
especially relevant from October through December.
Read next: Where to Buy Advent Calendars 2026: Best Places for Collectibles, Toys, Beauty & Fandom Gifts
This is also where DoesignUs can connect football content with the wider Christmas 2026 gift collection without turning the season preview itself into a sales page.
The 2026 NFL Season Is Almost Here
August predictions will not survive the entire season.
Some favorites will disappoint.
A team currently being overlooked will almost certainly emerge.
A young player will become a star faster than expected.
Injuries will reshape at least one division.
And by January, the playoff picture may look nothing like the one fans imagined before Week 1.
That unpredictability is part of why football season works.
What we know right now is simple:
The 2026 NFL season starts September 9.
The defending champion Seahawks immediately face the Patriots team they defeated in the Super Bowl.
The Rams have gone all-in.
Kansas City is trying to return to championship form.
Buffalo is still searching for its breakthrough.
And 32 fan bases can once again convince themselves that this might be their year.
Football is almost back.
Time to get ready.
Ready for the New Football Season?
Discover personalized footwear, fan-inspired collectibles, apparel and unique gift ideas created for people who want to represent what they love.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 2026 NFL season start?
The 2026 NFL regular season begins on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, when the New England Patriots visit the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
Who won Super Bowl LX?
The Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl LX and enter the 2026 season as defending champions.
What is the first game of the 2026 NFL season?
The first regular-season matchup is New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks on September 9 at Lumen Field.
Is the NFL playing in Australia in 2026?
Yes. The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will meet at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 10, marking the first NFL regular-season game in Australia.
What are some of the biggest Week 1 NFL games in 2026?
Patriots-Seahawks, Rams-49ers in Melbourne, Cowboys-Giants and Broncos-Chiefs are among the biggest opening-week matchups.
What are good gifts for an NFL fan who already owns a jersey?
Personalized footwear, collectibles, display pieces, drinkware, custom apparel and seasonal football gifts are useful alternatives to another jersey.
Where can I find unique football fan gifts?
DoesignUs offers fan-inspired apparel, footwear, collectibles and gift ideas for shoppers looking beyond traditional sports merchandise.