NFL Training Camp Update — Week ending Sunday 26 July 2026 · NFL training camps have opened. The defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks host the Patriots to kick off the season 9 September. The 49ers vs Rams MCG Melbourne game is 11 September AEST. Here’s what Australian fans need to know as football returns.
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The offseason is over. NFL training camps have opened across the league — the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks were first up with rookies reporting on 17 July and veterans following on 24 July. Most other teams have opened this week or open by 28 July. And for Australian fans, this training camp cycle carries extra significance: the 49ers vs Rams MCG game on 11 September is six weeks away, the first regular-season NFL game ever played in Australia. Here’s what to watch as the 2026 season builds.
The Australian moment: 49ers vs Rams at the MCG
This is the biggest NFL storyline for Australian fans in a generation. The San Francisco 49ers host the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday 11 September 2026 — the first regular-season NFL game ever played in Australia. The game is Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season and will be broadcast live to an international audience.
For Australian NFL fans, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity — and the ripple effects extend beyond the single game. It signals the NFL’s genuine interest in the Australian market, which almost certainly means more games in future years. Tickets sold out in hours when they went on sale earlier in the year. The stadium capacity of over 100,000 will make this one of the largest crowds an NFL regular-season game has ever drawn.
Both teams enter with playoff hopes. The 49ers reset around Brock Purdy after a disappointing 2025 season. The Rams — always a Sean McVay-coached playoff threat — have Matthew Stafford still at the helm and a deep skill-position group. This is a matchup with genuine competitive stakes on top of the historic occasion.
Training camp opens: who’s watching what
Training camps are the first look at the 2026 rosters in a competitive setting. Here are the storylines Australian fans should follow through August:
Quarterback battles
Several teams have genuine QB1 questions heading into the season:
- Cleveland Browns: Deshaun Watson, 2025 fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel are all competing. New head coach Todd Monken has to pick a starter — Sanders reportedly took first-team reps in OTAs and minicamp.
- Atlanta Falcons: Michael Penix Jr. vs Tua Tagovailoa. Camp will reveal Penix’s mobility and Tua’s health under new coach Kevin Stefanski.
- Arizona Cardinals: Without Kyler Murray, Arizona is down to Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew and Carson Beck — one of the bottom-tier QB rooms in the league.
- Las Vegas Raiders: Kirk Cousins is expected to start, but rookie Fernando Mendoza (2026 Heisman winner and #1 overall pick) is on the roster. Camp reps will define his early-season role.
Star returns and comebacks
Patrick Mahomes is recovering from injury and expected to return to full training-camp form. His health is the biggest single question in the AFC.
Aaron Donald is exploring a comeback attempt with the Rams. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year retired after the 2023 season; his return would immediately reshape the LA defence.
New systems and coaching changes
Multiple teams have new offensive coordinators or head coaches bedding in fresh schemes. The Philadelphia Eagles have Sean Mannion as their new OC — a scheme rooted in Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan principles (pre-snap motion, under-centre plays, play-action). It’s Jalen Hurts’ sixth OC in seven seasons. Notably, A.J. Brown is no longer with the Eagles — his loss is significant given he was 32.6% of Philadelphia’s receiving yards from 2022-25.
The Cleveland Browns begin the Todd Monken era with a rebuilt roster and unresolved QB situation.
The reigning champs: Seattle Seahawks
The defending Super Bowl champions open the 2026 season at home against the Patriots on 9 September — a rematch of Super Bowl LX. Seattle enter as favourites to defend but the NFC will be brutally competitive. The 49ers, Rams and Detroit Lions all have designs on the conference title. The Cowboys and Eagles are in the mix. The Green Bay Packers continue to develop around Jordan Love.
Season openers historically produce upset results — the Patriots have every incentive to prove that Super Bowl LX was closer than the final score. New England enter with plenty of offseason additions and a full offseason to prepare a game plan for Seattle.
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Key dates for Australian fans
| Date (AEST) | Event |
|---|---|
| Late July – early August | Training camps continue for all 32 teams |
| Mid August | Preseason games begin |
| Thu 10 September AEST | NFL season kicks off — Seahawks vs Patriots |
| Fri 11 September AEST | 49ers vs Rams at the MCG — first NFL game in Australia |
| Sunday 8 February 2027 | Super Bowl LXI (Monday morning AEST) |
How to watch NFL in Australia — 2026 season
Australian NFL viewing options for the 2026 season:
- ESPN Australia (via Foxtel / Kayo) — Sunday and Monday night games
- Kayo Sports — most nationally televised games, Super Bowl
- 7Plus — free-to-air coverage of selected games including the Super Bowl
- NFL Game Pass — every game live and on-demand
Full breakdown available in our How to Watch NFL in Australia 2026 guide.
What’s next?
- Live US Sports TV Guide — every game with AEST times and live scores
- How to Watch NFL in Australia 2026
All information accurate as of Sunday 26 July 2026. NFL training camp details continue to develop — ESPN and NFL.com track daily. Mac Johannson covers US sports for Australian fans.
