Business & Finance
NFL issues memo barring players who return to college from signing during 2026 season
The league clarified that released players who rejoin college teams cannot join an NFL roster this year or enter future drafts, amid legal and eligibility disputes.
The short version
- The NFL sent a memo to clubs stating that players released from contracts who elect to return to college football for the 2026 season are ineligible to sign with an NFL team this year.
- The directive also bars returning college players from entering future NFL drafts, maintaining their status as free agents.
- The clarification affects released players, including Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, who obtained court orders for extra college eligibility to potentially play at LSU.
- Conferences including the SEC and Big Ten issued new rules barring athletes with professional experience, prompting threats of legal action from players' representatives.
Key facts
- The NFL circulated a memo reaffirming that any player cut from an NFL roster who returns to college football for the 2026 season cannot sign with an NFL club during the season.[Fox News]
- Under the NFL's policy, cut players who choose to return to college remain free agents and are barred from participating in future NFL drafts.[Fox News]
- Former Cleveland Browns player Dae’Quan Wright and former New Orleans Saints player Zxavian Harris secured temporary restraining orders granting them an additional year of college eligibility.[Fox News]
- The SEC and Big Ten established eligibility rules that disqualify athletes who signed pro contracts, declared for the NFL Draft, or attended professional training camps from conference play.[Fox News]
- Attorney Ryan Downton announced plans for legal action against the NCAA and conferences regarding the newly instituted conference eligibility restrictions.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- Whether pending legal challenges will successfully overturn conference eligibility bans on former professional players re-entering college football.[Fox News]