NFL will open 2026 season on a Wednesday for 2nd time ever with the champion Seahawks as host - AP News
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The NFL will open the 2026 season on a Wednesday for the second time, with the champion Seahawks as host.
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The NFL will open its 2026 season on a Wednesday, with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks hosting the opener—only the second time in league history the season has started on a midweek day. Wednesday openers are rare in the NFL calendar, which traditionally launches on Thursday nights; the scheduling deviation underscores the league's occasional flexibility in arranging marquee matchups around marquee teams. The Seahawks earned hosting rights by winning the Super Bowl in the previous season, a privilege that comes with the championship title. This marks a notable departure from standard NFL scheduling practices, as most season openers occur on Thursday or, in some cases, Monday night.
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