NFL lockout timeline
The lockout of NFL players lasted 132 days before the sides reached a full agreement on the new collective bargaining agreement on Monday.
The deal ends several court battles and a war of words between labor and management. Here's a look at how the spring and summer of discontent came to an end:
Date | Description |
|---|---|
Feb. 6 | Super Bowl XLV: Packers 31, Steelers 25 |
March 1 | Minnesota district Judge Dave Doty ruled owners illegally created a $4 billion lockout fund by redoing TV contracts and sought to "harm" players |
March 9 | Sources claim agreement reached on rookie pay scale. Cole story |
March 11 | NFL Players Association decertifies as a union |
March 12 | Owners officially lock out players |
March 15 | Vikings RB Adrian Peterson says NFL is "modern-day slavery" in interview with Shutdown Corner. |
March 28 | Retired NFL players file antitrust lawsuit against NFL |
April 11 | NFLPA announces Rookie Debut lineup, confirming it won't boycott/interfere with NFL draft |
April 20 | "Mid-tier" players reportedly demand seat at negotiating table. Wetzel story |
April 25 | U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson rules the lockout should be lifted to save players irreversible damage. |
April 26 | Date that NFL free agency would have begun |
April 28 | NFL draft still commences, but fans boo commissioner Roger Goodell |
April 29 | 8th Circuit panel puts Nelsons ruling on hold four days later |
May 16 | U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals grants NFL owners a stay. |
May 25 | NFL Coaches Association files brief with Eighth Circuit expressing support for players |
June 3 | Full appeal scheduled in Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for legality of lockout. |
June 7 | Owners, players meet secretly at a New York City hotel |
June 14 | Owners, players continue secret sessions near Baltimore |
June 21 | Owners meet in Chicago |
June 22 | Owners, players meet outside of Boston for the first of two days |
June 28 | Goodell and Smith fly together to attend rookie symposium, a sign of "progress" in the labor talks |
July 4 | Cited as date needed to insure normal season Cole story |
July 7 | Owners, players meet at Manhattan law firm |
July 8 | Eighth Circuit Court rules that lockout is legal |
July 11 | Legal teams representing owners, players meet in Manhattan |
July 13 | Owners and players join talks |
July 21 | Owners vote 31-0 to ratify CBA proposal. |
July 25 | Players vote 32-0 to ratify CBA agreement. |
Aug. 11 | First week of preseason (Thurs-Mon.) |
Sept. 8 | First regular season game: Saints at Packers |
Sept. 11 | Week 1 Sunday games |
