May 14 at 8 p.m. ET: The 2026 NFL Schedule Drops and the Seahawks Already Know Their Week 1 Opponent

The wait is over. After weeks of speculation about delays, the NFL just confirmed it: the full 2026 schedule arrives Thursday, May 14 at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network and ESPN2. That's when we finally get the complete 272-game slate. But here's the thing: the Seahawks already have a massive Week 1 reveal locked in, and it's historic.

Seattle Opens on Wednesday (and It's Weird in the Best Way)

The Seahawks will host an opponent on Wednesday, September 9 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. This isn't some random weeknight game. This will only be the second time in the past 75 years the NFL has opened its entire season on a Wednesday. That's massive. The home team advantage? The Seahawks have got it. Their mystery opponent will be one of seven teams: the Cardinals, Cowboys, Giants, Bears, Chiefs, Chargers, or Patriots. Don't expect Kansas City, though. Chiefs owner Clark Hunt already said the league likely won't pick his team since it's still unclear if Patrick Mahomes will be ready for Week 1.

Nine International Games, One Record

The NFL is going global in 2026 like never before. The league announced there will be a record nine international games on the schedule this year, and all of them drop one day early on May 13 at 9 a.m. ET on "Good Morning Football."

Here's what we know so far: the 49ers and Rams are heading to Australia for Week 1 on September 10, kicking off at 8:35 p.m. ET in the US (though it'll be 10:35 a.m. Friday morning in Melbourne at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground). The Cowboys and Ravens will face off in Rio de Janeiro during Week 3 on September 27 at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS at the Maracanã Stadium, marking the NFL's first game ever in Rio. The Saints, 49ers, and other teams have international games lined up too, with matchups in Paris and Mexico City among the destinations.

Broadcast Partners Get a Sneak Peek First

Before the May 14 drop, the networks get to tease us. NBC, CBS, Fox, and ESPN will each announce games starting May 11 through May 13 during their upfronts. It's the league's way of building hype, and honestly, it's working.

May 14 can't come fast enough. Mark it on your calendar.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.