SEATTLE — The 2026 NFL season will begin on a Wednesday with a Super Bowl LX rematch, as the defending champion Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots to kick off the new campaign and open their title defense.
The league has tabbed the two Super Bowl LX participants for the showcase opener, pairing Seattle and New England in Week 1. The matchup delivers an immediate rematch of the championship game, giving the Seahawks a home test to start the year and the Patriots an early shot at revenge. The game marks the first meeting between the clubs since Super Bowl LX and sets the tone for the opening week of the 2026 season.
Seattle enters the season as the reigning champion, and the NFL's tradition of having the title holder host the opener continues with this marquee pairing. The Wednesday start marks an unusual launch to the calendar, with additional information on broadcast coverage and the remainder of the 2026 schedule to be announced by the league. The opener will set the stage for the full Week 1 slate as both teams begin their push toward the postseason.