There’s no off-season in sports like football’s off-season.
Starting on June 1, the National Football League’s post-June 1 designation window opened, allowing teams to willingly cut players from their salary cap with lesser penalties, and subsequently allowing blockbuster trades and free agency signings to occur.
The post-June 1 designation window opens every year at 4:00 p.m., and at 4:22 p.m., a trade was announced.
A.J. Brown, three-time Pro Bowl selection and a Super Bowl champion was traded to the 2025 AFC Champions, the New England Patriots from the Philadelphia Eagles. In compensation for Brown, the Eagles received a 2028 first-round draft pick, and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
June 1 was quite an unusual day for the New York Giants organization and their fans due to the fact they re-signed a familiar wide receiver of theirs, Odell Beckham Jr. AKA “OBJ”.
Beckham Jr. had a love-hate relationship with the Giants because he was an extraordinary player with very high potential, but he didn’t pan out due to an extreme lack of sportsmanship, effort and just a disrespect for the game.
Beckham Jr. was known for dancing during warmups and practices, taking reps unseriously and always trying to catch the ball with one hand instead of two.
Beckham Jr. had 390 receptions, 5,476 receiving yards and 44 touchdowns for the 4 years he was on the Giants as well as some unforgettable catches.
Beckham Jr.’s take on resigning with the Giants after his seven-year hiatus was described as “surreal,” also stating that “I came here to earn it—nothing in my life was given to me” so he’s making it public he is ready to earn his way onto this team and giving it his all
But here, the Giants are re-signing him as a free agent, seemingly out of the blue, to join the team known as “Big Blue”.
Russell Wilson, 2012 NFL Rookie of the Year and Super Bowl XLVII Champion, announced his retirement from the NFL on June 3.
Wilson was a member of the Giants organization through the 2025-26 season, with a 0-3 record, 69/119 completions/attempts, 3 TD and 831 yards on the year. In a statement to ESPN, Wilson said the following about his retirement:
“As I enter this next chapter with CBS Sports and ‘The NFL Today,’ I’m so blessed to continue doing what I love most — being around the greatest game in the world,” Wilson expressed.
Wilson will become an analyst for CBS, with 14 years of NFL experience, he will add an expert look into the commentator’s booth for years to come.
Wilson isn’t alone, as another veteran quarterback also announced their retirement this season.
Aaron Rodgers, Super Bowl XLV Champion and four-time MVP announced that the 2026-27 NFL Season will be his last. Rodgers has been in the NFL since 2005, and was a first round pick out of the University of California-Berkeley.
Rodgers was signed by the New York Jets in 2023 after being released from his long-time team, the Green Bay Packers the previous year. After a stint of injuries and a slump in performance, Rodgers signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he will end his career.
Rodgers’ 2025 season featured a playoff appearance, his first since leaving Green Bay. Rodgers ended 2025 with 327/496 CMP/ATT, 3,322 YDS, and 24 TD.
2026’s first blockbuster trade happened quickly, as on June 1, the Cleveland Browns sent superstar defensive end Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, getting defensive end Jared Verse in return, and a 2027 first-round pick, 2028 second-round pick and 2029 third-round pick.
Garrett set the NFL single-season record for the most sacks in a season, with 23.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, a free-agent wide receiver, was signed by his fourth team, the New York Giants.
Smith-Schuster’s career is highlighted by a Super Bowl win (LVII), and a Pro Bowl selection.
Smith-Schuster’s personality off-field is sometimes what fans remember more about his career, as compared to his accolades on-field.
Overall, the 2026 NFL Season is winding up, as minicamps and workouts begin, and players finalize their contracts, all eyes are on kickoff of the first game of preseason.
