The NFL playoffs normally begin with Wild Card Weekend, which is held the weekend immediately after Week 18 of the regular season.
Current season dates
For the 2024–25 NFL season, the playoffs start with Wild Card games on Saturday, January 11, 2025, and continue through Monday, January 13, 2025. That three-day span (Jan. 11–13, 2025) is the official opening of the NFL postseason for this season.
Future 2025–26 season
For the 2025 NFL season (playoffs played in early 2026), the postseason is scheduled to begin on Saturday, January 10, 2026, again with Wild Card Weekend spanning January 10–12, 2026. As usual, these games come one week after the regular season ends in Week 18.
