NFL will release 2020 schedule Thursday

[May 05, 2020]  The NFL will release the full 2020 schedule on Thursday in a three-hour, prime-time television special.

The show will start at 8 p.m. ET and will air on NFL Network and the league's app.

The telecast will feature interviews with head coaches and general managers as well as other guests, all from their homes with NFL facilities shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The matchups for all teams' games will be revealed, division by division, with NFL Network analysts providing commentary. At the same time, all game sites and kickoff times will be posted on the NFL app and NFL.com.

Earlier Monday, the NFL announced that its scheduled 2020 games in London and Mexico were canceled.

"We thank our incredible fans in those territories for their passionate support of the NFL," league executive vice president Christopher Halpin said in a statement. "We will continue to serve them through our outstanding media partners and by being active supporters of both grassroots football and COVID-19 relief efforts in Mexico and the UK. We look forward to returning for games in both countries in the 2021 season."

The Jacksonville Jaguars were scheduled for consecutive games in London and other games were to include the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins.

The Arizona Cardinals were scheduled to play a home game in Mexico City.

The NFL will release the 2020 game schedule next week, and despite talk of alternative scheduling or a late start because of the coronavirus, it is expected to be a business-as-usual slate.

The NFL logo is pictured at an event in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., November 30, 2017. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

ESPN reported Saturday that the 17-week season will open Thursday, Sept. 10, and close with Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7 in Tampa, Fla., citing league spokesman Brian McCarthy.

However, Sports Business Daily reported last week that the NFL is building contingency plans into the schedule, including season openers occurring more than a month later than expected and pushing back the Super Bowl by as much as three weeks.

According to the report, the opening slate of regular-season games could be moved all the way back to Thursday, Oct. 15, which is currently set as the start to Week 6. The Super Bowl in Tampa, Fla., could be moved from Feb. 7 all the way back to Feb. 28.

--Field Level Media

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