The 2023 NFL season was the 104th season of the National Football League (NFL). The regular season began on September 7, 2023, with defending Super Bowl LVII champion Kansas City losing to Detroit in the NFL Kickoff Game, and ended on January 7, 2024.
The playoffs started on January 13 and concluded with Super Bowl LVIII, the league's championship game, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, on February 11, 2024. Kansas City defeated San Francisco in overtime, becoming the first team since the 2004 New England Patriots to win back-to-back Super Bowls.
This was the first season since 1935 in which every team in a division (in this case the AFC North) finished with a winning record.
Player movement The 2023 NFL league year and trading period began on March 15. On March 13, teams were allowed to exercise options for 2023 on players with option clauses in their contracts, submit qualifying offers to their pending restricted free agents, and submit a Minimum Salary Tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2022 contracts and fewer than three accrued seasons of free agent credit. Teams were required to be under the salary cap using the "top 51" definition (in which the 51 highest paid-players on the team's payroll must have a combined salary cap). On March 15, clubs were allowed to contact and begin contract negotiations with players whose contracts had expired and thus became unrestricted free agents.
This season's salary cap increased to $224.8 million per team, up from $208.2 million in 2022.
Free agency Free agency began on March 15. Notable players to change teams included:
Quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett (Cleveland to Washington), Derek Carr (Las Vegas to New Orleans), Andy Dalton (New Orleans to Carolina), Jimmy Garoppolo (San Francisco to Las Vegas), Taylor Heinicke (Washington to Atlanta), and Baker Mayfield (Los Angeles Rams to Tampa Bay) Running backs Dalvin Cook (Minnesota to New York Jets), Ezekiel Elliott (Dallas to New England), Melvin Gordon (Kansas City to Baltimore), Damien Harris (New England to Buffalo), David Montgomery (Chicago to Detroit), Latavius Murray (Denver to Buffalo), Miles Sanders (Philadelphia to Carolina), Devin Singletary (Buffalo to Houston), and Jamaal Williams (Detroit to New Orleans) Wide receivers Nelson Agholor (New England to Baltimore), Odell Beckham Jr. (Los Angeles Rams to Baltimore), D. J. Chark (Detroit to Carolina), DeAndre Hopkins (Arizona to Tennessee), Allen Lazard (Green Bay to New York Jets), Jakobi Meyers (New England to Las Vegas), JuJu Smith-Schuster (Kansas City to New England), Adam Thielen (Minnesota to Carolina), and Robert Woods (Tennessee to Houston) Tight ends Mike Gesicki (Miami to New England), Austin Hooper (Tennessee to Las Vegas), Hayden Hurst (Cincinnati to Carolina), Dalton Schultz (Dallas to Houston), and Robert Tonyan (Green Bay to Chicago) Offensive linemen Orlando Brown Jr. (Kansas City to Cincinnati), Cody Ford (Arizona to Cincinnati), Nate Davis (Tennessee to Chicago), Mike McGlinchey (San Francisco to Denver), Connor McGovern (Dallas to Buffalo), Ben Powers (Baltimore to Denver), Donovan Smith (Tampa Bay to Kansas City), Jawaan Taylor (Jacksonville to Kansas City), and Andrew Wylie (Kansas City to Washington) Defensive linemen Zach Allen (Arizona to Denver), Calais Campbell (Baltimore to Atlanta), Marcus Davenport (New Orleans to Minnesota), Javon Hargrave (Philadelphia to San Francisco), Dre'Mont Jones (Denver to Seattle), Yannick Ngakoue (Indianapolis to Chicago), David Onyemata (New Orleans to Atlanta), and Dalvin Tomlinson (Minnesota to Cleveland) Linebackers Frank Clark (Kansas City to Denver), Tremaine Edmunds (Buffalo to Chicago), T. J. Edwards (Philadelphia to Chicago), Leonard Floyd (Los Angeles Rams to Buffalo), Eric Kendricks (Minnesota to Los Angeles Chargers), and Bobby Wagner (Los Angeles Rams to Seattle) Defensive backs Adrian Amos (Green Bay to New York Jets), Jessie Bates (Cincinnati to Atlanta), C. J. Gardner-Johnson (Philadelphia to Detroit), Byron Murphy (Arizona to Minnesota), Marcus Peters (Baltimore to Las Vegas), Patrick Peterson (Minnesota to Pittsburgh), Cameron Sutton (Pittsburgh to Detroit), Juan Thornhill (Kansas City to Cleveland), and Jimmie Ward (San Francisco to Houston) Kickers Matt Gay (Los Angeles Rams to Indianapolis) and Brandon McManus (Denver to Jacksonville) Punters Jake Bailey (New England to Miami) and Riley Dixon (Los Angeles Rams to Denver)
Trades The following notable trades were made during the 2023 league year:
March 15: The Los Angeles Rams traded CB Jalen Ramsey to Miami in exchange for TE Hunter Long and a 2023 third-round selection. March 15: Indianapolis traded CB Stephon Gilmore to Dallas in exchange for a 2023 fifth-round selection. March 15: Las Vegas traded TE Darren Waller to the New York Giants in exchange for a 2023 third-round selection. March 15: Carolina traded WR D. J. Moore, 2023 first and second-round selections (Nos. 9 and 61), a 2024 first-round selection, and a 2025 second-round selection to Chicago in exchange for a 2023 first-round selection (No. 1). March 22: The New York Jets traded WR Elijah Moore and a 2023 third-round selection to Cleveland in exchange for a 2023 second-round selection. April 19: The Los Angeles Rams traded WR Allen Robinson and a 2023 seventh-round selection to Pittsburgh in exchange for a 2023 seventh-round selection. April 24: Green Bay traded QB Aaron Rodgers and 2023 first and fifth-round selections to the New York Jets in exchange for 2023 first, second, and sixth-round selections, and a conditional 2024 second-round selection. April 29: Detroit traded RB D'Andre Swift and a 2023 seventh-round selection to Philadelphia in exchange for 2023 seventh and 2025 fourth-round selections. May 16: Minnesota traded DE Za'Darius Smith along with 2025 sixth and seventh-round selections to Cleveland in exchange for 2024 and 2025 fifth-round selections. August 25: San Francisco traded QB Trey Lance to Dallas in exchange for a 2024 fourth-round selection. August 27: Cleveland traded OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr. to New England in exchange for RB Pierre Strong Jr. August 27: Pittsburgh traded G Kevin Dotson and 2024 fifth and 2025 sixth-round selections to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for 2024 fourth and 2025 fifth-round selections. August 29: New Orleans traded K Wil Lutz to Denver in exchange for a 2024 seventh-round selection. August 29: New England traded K Nick Folk to Tennessee in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round selection. August 29: Miami traded CB Noah Igbinoghene to Dallas in exchange for CB Kelvin Joseph. October 4: The Los Angeles Chargers traded CB J. C. Jackson and a 2025 seventh-round selection to New England in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round selection. October 18: The New York Jets traded WR Mecole Hardman and a 2025 seventh-round selection to Kansas City in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round selection. October 23: Tennessee traded S Kevin Byard to Philadelphia in exchange for S Terrell Edmunds and 2024 fifth and sixth-round selections. October 30: The New York Giants traded DE Leonard Williams to Seattle in exchange for 2024 second and 2025 fifth-round selections. October 31: Washington traded DE Montez Sweat to Chicago in exchange for a 2024 second-round selection. October 31: Washington traded DE Chase Young to San Francisco in exchange for a 2024 third-round selection. October 31: Green Bay traded CB Rasul Douglas and a 2024 fifth-round selection to Buffalo in exchange for a 2024 third-round selection.
Retirements
Notable retirements
QB Tom Brady – Fifteen-time Pro Bowler, six-time All-Pro (three first-team, three second-team), seven-time Super Bowl champion (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI, LIII, and LV), five-time Super Bowl MVP (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XLIX, LI, and LV), three-time NFL MVP (2007, 2010, and 2017), two-time Offensive Player of the Year (2007 and 2010), and 2009 Comeback Player of the Year. Played for New England and Tampa Bay during his 23-year career. WR A. J. Green – Seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time second-team All-Pro. Played for Cincinnati and Arizona during his 12-year career. DT Gerald McCoy – Six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro (one first-team, two second-team). Played for Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Las Vegas during his 12-year career. DE J. J. Watt – Five-time Pro Bowler, seven-time All-Pro (five first-team, two second-team), three-time Defensive Player of the Year (2012, 2014, and 2015), and 2017 Walter Payton Man of the Year. Played for Houston and Arizona during his 12-year career.
Other retirements
Draft The 2023 NFL draft was held outside Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 27–29. Chicago, by virtue of having the worst record in , was awarded the first overall selection. However, it was traded to Carolina, who selected quarterback Bryce Young out of Alabama.
2023 deaths Pro Football Hall of Fame members
Bobby Beathard Beathard was the general manager of the Washington Redskins from 1978 to 1989 and the San Diego Chargers from 1990 to 2000, as well as serving as the Miami Dolphins' director of player personnel from 1972 to 1977, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018. He was a four-time Super Bowl champion (VII, VIII, XVII, and XXII). He died on January 30, age 86. Gil Brandt Brandt was the vice president of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys from 1960 to 1988, as well as serving in executive roles with the Los Angeles Rams 1955 to 1957 and the San Francisco 49ers from 1958 to 1959, helped create the NFL Scouting Combine, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. He was a two-time Super Bowl champion (VI and XII). He died on August 31, age 91. Bob Brown Brown played ten seasons in the NFL as an offensive tackle with the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, and Oakland Raiders, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and nine-time All-Pro (five first-team, four second-team). He died on June 16, age 81. Jim Brown Brown played nine seasons in the NFL as a fullback with the Cleveland Browns, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971. He was a nine-time Pro Bowler, nine-time All-Pro (eight first-team, one second-team), three-time NFL MVP, and 1964 NFL Champion. He died on May 18, age 87. Dick Butkus Butkus played nine seasons in the NFL as a linebacker with the Chicago Bears, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979. He was an eight-time Pro Bowler, eight-time All-Pro (five first-team, three second-team), and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He died on October 5, age 80. Bud Grant Grant was the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 1967 to 1983 and the 1985 season. He won an NFL championship with the Vikings in 1969 and NFC championships in 1973, 1974 and 1976, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994. He died on March 11, age 95. Art McNally McNally was the director of officiating for the NFL from 1968 to 1991. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022, becoming the first official to receive the honor. He died on January 1, age 97. Dave Wilcox Wilcox played 11 seasons in the NFL as a linebacker with the San Francisco 49ers, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro (two first-team, two second-team). He died on April 19, age 80.
Active personnel Norma Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs co-owner (minority) since 2006, widow of Chiefs and American Football League founder Lamar Hunt and mother of Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt. Won two Super Bowls (LIV and LVII) as co-owner. She died on June 4, age 85.
Rule changes The following rule changes for the 2023 season were approved at the NFL Owners' Meeting on March 28: