This week, the San Francisco 49ers enter Week 2 of OTA practices. Media will have access on Wednesday, with offensive line coach and run game coordinator Chris Foerster, along with special teams coordinator Brian Schneider, available for interviews after practice.
Major changes could be on the horizon for the NFL offseason. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the NFL Players Association is developing a proposal that could significantly alter the offseason structure as soon as 2025.
Pelissero reports that the NFLPA aims to eliminate voluntary on-field work in the spring in favor of extended training camps. The proposal suggests players would begin reporting from mid-June to early July, extending into the regular training camp period.
This formal proposal will be presented this summer as part of the collective bargaining process. Any changes would require NFL approval.
The reasoning behind these changes is to address injury concerns. The NFLPA, in consultation with medical and performance experts, seeks to find a balanced solution that reduces injuries and provides players with sufficient recovery time. The proposed changes include virtual classroom work in the spring, with on-field practice deferred to the start of training camp.
Teams like the 49ers, who often make deep playoff runs, would likely support this proposal due to the short turnaround between the end of the season and mid-April, which hardly feels like an offseason.
Pelissero does not believe the revised offseason is directly linked to the possibility of an 18-game season, though a longer schedule would further shorten the gap between the season and training camp. This discussion follows renewed calls for an 18th game from NFL owners, including Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, as recently as last week. The NFLPA’s proposal is in response to ongoing concerns rather than a new issue.
