The road to the 2026 NFL season officially begins for the Jacksonville Jaguars, as the team has unveiled its full offseason schedule, pinpointing essential dates for Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and its mandatory minicamp. This schedule offers a clear roadmap for the Jaguars as they build towards what they hope will be a defining season.
Following the NFL's structured offseason format, the Jaguars will proceed through a phased approach to ramp player activities while ensuring safety and strategic preparation. Under the leadership of head coach Liam Coen and general manager James Gladstone, the team aims to solidify fundamentals and integrate new talent.
Phase One: April 20 - May 9 - Foundation and Preparation
The offseason program kicks off on April 20 with Phase One, emphasizing acclimation, instruction, and physical conditioning. This phase restricts players to meetings, strength and conditioning work, and rehabilitation efforts, with no on-field activities involving footballs or coaches. While less glamorous than on-field drills, this stage is crucial for players to absorb the playbook and prepare their bodies for the demanding months ahead.
Phase Two: May 12 - June 6 - On-Field Installation
Starting May 12, Phase Two introduces controlled on-field activities that permit coaches to conduct drills and install offensive and defensive schemes. Although contact remains prohibited to keep players healthy, the Jaguars utilize this time to teach timing and technique. Key figures such as quarterback Trevor Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne, and wide receivers like Jakobi Meyers and Tim Patrick focus on refining timing and route concepts during this period.
Phase Three: May 27 - June 12 - Organized Team Activities (OTAs)
OTAs represent the first voluntary team practices that allow competitive football drills without full contact. The Jaguars have scheduled three OTA sessions across ten days:
First OTA: May 27-29
Second OTA: June 2-4
Third OTA: June 9-12
These practices enable rookies and new free agents to showcase their progress and fit within the Jaguars' system. Coaches, including offensive coordinator Grant Udinski and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, closely evaluate player performance during these sessions to finalize their depth chart for training camp.
Mandatory Minicamp: June 16-18 - The Crucial Spring Test
The offseason culminates with a mandatory minicamp from June 16 to June 18. All contracted players are required to attend, allowing coaches to run intensive positional drills and team scenarios. This minicamp serves as a benchmark for player readiness ahead of the summer break and the lead into the 2026 training camp at the Miller Electric Center.
Looking Ahead: Training Camp Timeline
While the official 2026 training camp start date has yet to be announced, it traditionally occurs in late July. Training camp will introduce padded practices, controlled scrimmages, and full-speed evaluations critical to roster decisions ahead of the preseason and regular season kickoff.
Offseason Significance
This comprehensive schedule not only structures player activity but sets the narrative for the Jaguars' 2026 campaign. With roster adjustments from the recent NFL Draft and free agency behind them, the team will lean heavily on these spring sessions to foster cohesion among newcomers and veterans. Players like Trevor Lawrence, entering a pivotal stage in his career, will have ample opportunity to develop critical chemistry with their supporting cast.
The Jaguars also view this offseason as an opportunity to emphasize fundamentals and build a resilient team culture. Under head coach Liam Coen's guidance, the program aims to correct past mistakes and instill a winning mindset essential for success in the highly competitive AFC South division.
Every yard gained on Sundays starts with the effort put in during the offseason. With their offseason dates now official, the Jacksonville Jaguars have laid the foundation to pursue their goal of becoming an AFC powerhouse in 2026.