NFL bars first-year players who sign with college teams from returning in 2026
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- NFL teams will be notified that players returning to college will be barred from rejoining the NFL during the 2026 season.
- Players moving from the NFL back to college will not re-enter the draft but will become free agents in 2027.
- These changes likely require updates or clarifications to the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
- The CBA currently allows NFL teams to retain rights to players who return to college, holding those rights until the player's college eligibility ends, which will be relevant when the NCAA's new five-year rule starts in 2027.
- This rule could lead to more players being drafted lower and opting to play an additional college year for NIL opportunities before beginning their NFL careers.
