Football Is Back: Seven Key Storylines for the 2026 NFL Season

Are you ready for some football?

Yes, the 2026 NFL season will kick off on the night of Sept. 9 with a Super Bowl LX rematch, as the defending champion Seattle Seahawks square off against the New England Patriots. Over the past two decades, the NFL has emerged as far and away the most popular sport in the U.S., with over 50% of the American population identifying as fans of the league. If that weren’t enough, in 2025, 83 of the top 100 highest-rated TV programs were NFL games, including 23 of the top 24 overall. The Super Bowl attracted 127.7 million viewers, while the Academy Awards drew 17.9 million, and it wasn’t even a good game.

In order to not embarrass yourself at the water cooler, here are seven key storylines to pay attention to this NFL season, from elite QBs and major offseason moves to newlyweds Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce and the Donald Trump of it all.