2021 NFL Schedule Reportedly Will Be Released After Draft

As expected, the 2021 NFL regular-season schedule will reportedly be released after the draft, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Ben Fischer of the Sports Business Journal reported last month that the NFL was "targeting the second week of May" to publish the schedule. 

The league dropped the schedule last year on May 7 after previously releasing it before the draft. 

This season's schedule will be different from those of previous years because the NFL has added an extra game. Instead of 16 contests in 17 weeks, the regular season will consist of 17 games in 18 weeks. 

The Week 18 matchups are already known, with interconference games pitting teams that finished in the same position within their division against each other. For example, the NFC North champion Green Bay Packers will play the AFC West champion Kansas City Chiefs. 

The 2021 NFL draft will take place from April 29 to May 1 in Cleveland. The regular season is expected to begin Sept. 9.