NFL window open for players under contract in CFL

Edit: 3DownNation

The 2025 Canadian Football League season has ended and players are drawing interest from NFL teams.

The NFL workout window has commenced, it opened on Monday, November 17 and closes on February 10, 2026, at 12:01 p.m. ET. The window to sign with an NFL team opens January 5, 2026, and ends February 10, 2026, at 12:01 p.m. ET.

NFL teams must ask CFL franchises for permission to work out players and the request cannot be denied. CFL players can opt out of their agreements north of the border if an NFL team offers a contract.

Pending CFL free agents do not have to complete the opt-out process. If a player’s contract expires on February 11, 2026, the CFL’s opening day for free agency, the agreement can be terminated if an NFL contract is offered.

Any player who accepts a monetary bonus after November 17 would be ineligible for the opt-out window in the current offseason. The opt-out agreement does address off-season money owed to a player and outlines how that’s treated if a player returns to his CFL team.

The opt-out window is for players signing with NFL teams only — it does not apply to other professional football leagues such as the United Football League.

Makai Polk, Ontario Wilson, Ajou Ajou, Trevor Reid, Elliott Brown, Ralph Holley and Jake Julien were some CFLers who signed NFL contracts last offseason.