NFL offseason: Key dates to watch for 49ers heading into 2023

The 49ers’ 2023 offseason begins now after being eliminated in the NFC Championship game. Let’s take a look at some key dates on the NFL schedule.

It would have been nicer if the San Francisco 49ers’ offseason in 2023 began a little later than it actually is.

However, after being eliminated by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game, head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co. are now looking at the full calendar of offseason events that’ll carry the team between now and the start of the 2023 regular season in September of this year.

That’s a long, long time from now. Fortunately, the NFL schedule carries plenty of events that’ll be of interest between now and then.

The first of which is the 2023 Pro Bowl, which will feature a skills competition and a flag-football game between the AFC and NFC. The Niners had six of their players nominated for the Pro Bowl, so they’ll be able to attend since Super Bowl LVII is no longer in play.

The 2023 Pro Bowl takes place on Thursday, Feb. 2, and Sunday, Feb. 5 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Super Bowl LVII then kicks off on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m. ET from Glendale, Arizona.

NFL offseason: Important dates on the 49ers’ 2023 calendar

There’ll be plenty of NFL offseason activity to watch once February rolls around, and a lot of it will focus on free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft.

One of those big dates will be the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine in which selected draftees will partake in workouts and drills ahead of the draft itself.

In between the combine and the draft, the start of NFL free agency will begin, too, meaning unrestricted free agents will be able to sign with any team, and San Francisco has a number of notable names poised to hit the open market:

List of important dates on 2023 NFL offseason

Feb. 28 – March 6: 2023 NFL Scouting Combine (Indianapolis, Indiana)

March 7: Deadline for teams to apply franchise or transition tags to eligible players

March 13: “Legal tampering” period begins, teams are able to enter negotiations with players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents

March 15: Beginning of the NFL new year, all 2022 contracts expire and unrestricted free agents are free to sign with any team

April 27-29: 2023 NFL Draft (Kansas City, Missouri)

Read More: 49ers’ 5 biggest needs in 2023 NFL Draft

Every team will then conduct rookie minicamps as the opening part of the offseason, which will transition into organized team activities, mandatory minicamp and then training camp.

Each of those dates has yet to be determined, and clubs will announce those dates later in the NFL offseason.