Latest rumor about 2026 NFL schedule release could leave Miami Dolphins fans waiting longer than usual for

The 2026 schedule release may keep Miami Dolphins fans waiting longer than usual to figure out this year’s season outlook.

Kyle Crabbs — NFL National Writer
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Dec 21, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington (6) a touchdown during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Hard Rock Stadium. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

With the NFL Draft in the rear-view mirror, the NFL machine is rolling along towards it’s next big event on the calendar. That would be the schedule release. The Miami Dolphins, along with the rest of the NFL, have been finding out their schedule in the second week of May in recent years — which would put us just one week away based on recent trends.

But there’s a new rumor floating around that may have us all waiting a little longer than has become the norm for clarity on “when” all 17 games on the schedule are going to take place.

Latest rumor suggests Miami Dolphins fans may be waiting longer than usual to see 2026 schedule

Dec 21, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington (6) a touchdown during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Hard Rock Stadium.Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

“Most fans know full well that the schedule comes out in mid-May now. That’s what we’ve done the last five or six years. That’s sort of our target. Is there any magic to May 12, 13, 14? No. Is there any real downside to [May] 19, 20 or 21? No.”

—  NFL V.P. of broadcast planning Mike North via John Breech, CBS Sports

On one hand, it makes all the sense in the world for the NFL to drop this release sometime in the heart of May. You don’t want to wait too long for the schedule release — or else you may risk friendliness to fans trying to book accommodations for games in the fall.

I would understand why the league would push another week further away from the NFL Draft, too. Dropping it so close to the heels of the NFL Draft creates a tight bundle of action in the spring before and extended layoff ahead of training camp. Camps open in late July — so one week can make a big difference in the way of lessening the dead period for the NFL news cycle.

The NFL has done incredibly well in recent years to diminish the valleys of their offseason. There’s always SOMETHING in the news and on the horizon, with the exception of late spring and early summer. Pushing the schedule reveal by a week? It moves them closer to that goal of 12 month dominance in the news cycle.

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