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A lot of people skip NFL preseason games because they don’t count, and the star players usually stay on the sidelines. But true football fans know that August is actually an important time of year.
This is when coaches figure out their final 53-man team. For the players on the bubble, every single play is a desperate fight to keep their NFL dreams alive. It is also the first time teams can try out new plays, see what their young guys can do and test out their offseason changes against real opponents. Coaches and front offices learn things in these games that they just can’t see in regular practice.
MORE:5 most watchable storylines at NFL training camps
The preseason is also the perfect time to spot future stars before everyone else knows their names. You get to watch rookies, undrafted players, and backups try to prove they deserve a spot on the field. Plus, fans get to enjoy cheaper tickets and get much closer to the players at open training camps, which is a rare treat once the real games start.
Even though nobody cares who wins or loses in August, what teams learn now can completely shape their regular season. That is why the biggest fans always tune in.
In fact, there are seven great things about preseason football that only the most dedicated fans truly appreciate.
Many people claim they do not watch preseason football. The numbers tell a different story. NFL fans continue to tune in every August because they know these games still matter.
During the 2025 preseason, games averaged 2.2 million viewers across television and digital platforms. That was a 17% increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, the 2025 Hall of Fame Game drew an impressive 6.9 million viewers.
Those figures beat the audience for many regular-season games in other sports. For example, “Sunday Night Baseball” averaged around 1.76 million viewers. The message is simple. Football remains the biggest attraction even when third-string players are on the field.
The final week of the preseason brings one of the busiest days on the NFL calendar. Every player on the roster knows his future could change within hours.
The league no longer uses multiple roster cutdowns. Instead, teams go straight from 90 players to the final 53 after the last preseason game. For the 2026 season, the deadline falls at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 30.
That decision puts more than 1,000 players on the waiver wire at the same time. Every snap in the final preseason game becomes important. Players are not only trying to impress their own coaches. They are also putting together tape for the other 31 teams around the league.
Preseason is not just about points on the scoreboard. Serious fans pay attention to how teams operate on offense.
Coaches often use these games to test their offensive system before Week 1. They look at tempo, play-calling, and how quickly the offense gets to the line. Analysts also study neutral game pace, which measures seconds per play when the score is close.
Teams that play around 29.5 to 30.5 seconds per snap usually show an aggressive offensive style. Watching backup quarterbacks run the same system also helps fans understand whether the scheme works on its own or depends on one star player.
MORE: Biggest NFL training camp cult heroes: 5 preseason legends fans still talk about
Going to a regular-season NFL game can cost a lot of money, but preseason games offer the same stadium experience for way less.
Because it’s so much cheaper, the preseason is a great time for families to enjoy a game without breaking the bank. It’s also a smart way for fans to test out different seats before buying more expensive tickets for the regular season.
If you look at ticket resale sites for the 2026 preseason, you can find seats starting at incredibly low prices. For example, you can get into Lucas Oil Stadium to see the Indianapolis Colts or Hard Rock Stadium to see the Miami Dolphins for as little as $3. Tickets to see the Rams or Chargers at SoFi Stadium, or the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, start at just $9. Moreover, you can also catch a Baltimore Ravens game at M&T Bank Stadium starting at around $13.
Regular-season NFL games come with tight security and limited player interaction. Preseason and training camp offer a completely different experience.
Most teams open several practices to the public before and during the preseason. Fans can watch drills, see position battles and get much closer to the players.
The Indianapolis Colts, for example, scheduled 13 open practices during their 2026 training camp. Most are free, while special events cost only $5. The team also holds autograph sessions after practice with different position groups.
Several clubs even organize kids-only autograph lines and family events. That kind of access almost disappears once the regular season begins.
Rule changes always look interesting on paper. Preseason is where teams find out what really works.
The NFL introduced the dynamic kickoff in 2024 to improve player safety while creating more returns. The kicking team lines up at the opponent’s 40-yard line. Meanwhile, the receiving team sets up inside a 15-yard zone near midfield.
Early research showed the rule increased kickoff return yards by 24.71%. It also boosted the number of returns per game by 18.94%.
Special teams coaches spend the preseason testing different players and new strategies. Instead of relying only on straight-line speed, many now value quick movement and strong tackling angles. Every kickoff becomes another chance to study how the rule continues to evolve.
MORE: 11 best current NFL announcers
Nothing captures preseason football better than the fight of undrafted free agents. These players enter the league with almost no guarantees. Every practice and every game becomes an audition.
Around 23% of NFL players are undrafted free agents. That equals nearly 400 players across the league. Recent numbers also show that roughly 20% of undrafted rookies earn a place on an opening-day roster.
Preseason gives these players their only chance to build game film against NFL competition. Real fans stay through the fourth quarter because the next hidden star could be on the field.
History proves it happens. Fifteen members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame entered the league without being drafted. That list includes Kurt Warner and Antonio Gates as well as 2026 inductee Adam Vinatieri, the clutch kicker who won four Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. Their journeys remind fans that every preseason game can change someone’s career forever.
Continue reading...
This is when coaches figure out their final 53-man team. For the players on the bubble, every single play is a desperate fight to keep their NFL dreams alive. It is also the first time teams can try out new plays, see what their young guys can do and test out their offseason changes against real opponents. Coaches and front offices learn things in these games that they just can’t see in regular practice.
MORE:5 most watchable storylines at NFL training camps
The preseason is also the perfect time to spot future stars before everyone else knows their names. You get to watch rookies, undrafted players, and backups try to prove they deserve a spot on the field. Plus, fans get to enjoy cheaper tickets and get much closer to the players at open training camps, which is a rare treat once the real games start.
Even though nobody cares who wins or loses in August, what teams learn now can completely shape their regular season. That is why the biggest fans always tune in.
In fact, there are seven great things about preseason football that only the most dedicated fans truly appreciate.
7. Surging viewership shows fans still care
Many people claim they do not watch preseason football. The numbers tell a different story. NFL fans continue to tune in every August because they know these games still matter.
During the 2025 preseason, games averaged 2.2 million viewers across television and digital platforms. That was a 17% increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, the 2025 Hall of Fame Game drew an impressive 6.9 million viewers.
Those figures beat the audience for many regular-season games in other sports. For example, “Sunday Night Baseball” averaged around 1.76 million viewers. The message is simple. Football remains the biggest attraction even when third-string players are on the field.
6. Single roster cutdown creates real drama
The final week of the preseason brings one of the busiest days on the NFL calendar. Every player on the roster knows his future could change within hours.
The league no longer uses multiple roster cutdowns. Instead, teams go straight from 90 players to the final 53 after the last preseason game. For the 2026 season, the deadline falls at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 30.
That decision puts more than 1,000 players on the waiver wire at the same time. Every snap in the final preseason game becomes important. Players are not only trying to impress their own coaches. They are also putting together tape for the other 31 teams around the league.
5. Fans can study offensive pace and new schemes
Preseason is not just about points on the scoreboard. Serious fans pay attention to how teams operate on offense.
Coaches often use these games to test their offensive system before Week 1. They look at tempo, play-calling, and how quickly the offense gets to the line. Analysts also study neutral game pace, which measures seconds per play when the score is close.
Teams that play around 29.5 to 30.5 seconds per snap usually show an aggressive offensive style. Watching backup quarterbacks run the same system also helps fans understand whether the scheme works on its own or depends on one star player.
MORE: Biggest NFL training camp cult heroes: 5 preseason legends fans still talk about
4. NFL games become much more affordable
Going to a regular-season NFL game can cost a lot of money, but preseason games offer the same stadium experience for way less.
Because it’s so much cheaper, the preseason is a great time for families to enjoy a game without breaking the bank. It’s also a smart way for fans to test out different seats before buying more expensive tickets for the regular season.
If you look at ticket resale sites for the 2026 preseason, you can find seats starting at incredibly low prices. For example, you can get into Lucas Oil Stadium to see the Indianapolis Colts or Hard Rock Stadium to see the Miami Dolphins for as little as $3. Tickets to see the Rams or Chargers at SoFi Stadium, or the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, start at just $9. Moreover, you can also catch a Baltimore Ravens game at M&T Bank Stadium starting at around $13.
3. Training camp gives fans rare access to players
Regular-season NFL games come with tight security and limited player interaction. Preseason and training camp offer a completely different experience.
Most teams open several practices to the public before and during the preseason. Fans can watch drills, see position battles and get much closer to the players.
The Indianapolis Colts, for example, scheduled 13 open practices during their 2026 training camp. Most are free, while special events cost only $5. The team also holds autograph sessions after practice with different position groups.
Several clubs even organize kids-only autograph lines and family events. That kind of access almost disappears once the regular season begins.
2. Dynamic kickoff rule comes to life
Rule changes always look interesting on paper. Preseason is where teams find out what really works.
The NFL introduced the dynamic kickoff in 2024 to improve player safety while creating more returns. The kicking team lines up at the opponent’s 40-yard line. Meanwhile, the receiving team sets up inside a 15-yard zone near midfield.
Early research showed the rule increased kickoff return yards by 24.71%. It also boosted the number of returns per game by 18.94%.
Special teams coaches spend the preseason testing different players and new strategies. Instead of relying only on straight-line speed, many now value quick movement and strong tackling angles. Every kickoff becomes another chance to study how the rule continues to evolve.
MORE: 11 best current NFL announcers
1. UDFA battle is one of football’s best stories
Nothing captures preseason football better than the fight of undrafted free agents. These players enter the league with almost no guarantees. Every practice and every game becomes an audition.
Around 23% of NFL players are undrafted free agents. That equals nearly 400 players across the league. Recent numbers also show that roughly 20% of undrafted rookies earn a place on an opening-day roster.
Preseason gives these players their only chance to build game film against NFL competition. Real fans stay through the fourth quarter because the next hidden star could be on the field.
History proves it happens. Fifteen members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame entered the league without being drafted. That list includes Kurt Warner and Antonio Gates as well as 2026 inductee Adam Vinatieri, the clutch kicker who won four Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. Their journeys remind fans that every preseason game can change someone’s career forever.
Continue reading...
