Buffalo Bills Kick Off 2026 Season with Offseason Workouts

New head coach Joe Brady leads the team's return to the field for early training activities.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:36am

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The Buffalo Bills have officially started their 2026 season, with players returning to One Bills Drive this week to begin the offseason workout program. As one of the NFL teams that hired a new head coach before the start of the new league year, the Bills were able to start their activities 20 days earlier than other teams.

Why it matters

The Bills' early start gives new head coach Joe Brady and his staff more time to work with the players and implement their systems before the full training camp schedule. This could provide an advantage as the team looks to build on last season's playoff appearance under the previous coaching staff.

The details

The Bills' offseason program will be broken down into three phases. Phase One from April 7-19 will focus on meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation. Phase Two from April 20-May 18 will allow on-field workouts and drills, but no live contact. Phase Three from May 18-June 11 will include OTAs and a mandatory minicamp, but still no live contact.

  • The Buffalo Bills started their offseason workout program on April 7, 2026.
  • The team will hold a voluntary minicamp from April 20-22, 2026.
  • Mandatory minicamp will take place from June 9-11, 2026.

The players

Joe Brady

The Buffalo Bills' new head coach, who was previously the offensive coordinator for the team.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to get the players back on the field and start working towards the 2026 season. This early start gives us valuable time to get everyone on the same page and lay the foundation for success.”

— Joe Brady, Head Coach, Buffalo Bills

What’s next

The Bills will continue their offseason program through the spring, leading up to the start of training camp in late July.

The takeaway

The Bills' early start to the offseason gives new head coach Joe Brady and his staff extra time to work with the players and implement their systems, which could provide a competitive advantage as the team looks to build on last season's playoff appearance.