Free agency

Free agency began on March 16. Notable players to change teams included:

• Quarterbacks Andy Dalton (Chicago to New Orleans), Marcus Mariota (Las Vegas to Atlanta) and Mitchell Trubisky (Buffalo to Pittsburgh)
• Running backs Chase Edmonds (Arizona to Miami), Ronald Jones II (Tampa Bay to Kansas City), Sony Michel (Los Angeles Rams to Miami), and Raheem Mostert (San Francisco to Miami)
• Wide receivers D. J. Chark (Jacksonville to Detroit), Russell Gage (Atlanta to Tampa Bay), Jakeem Grant (Chicago to Cleveland), Julio Jones (Tennessee to Tampa Bay), Zay Jones (Las Vegas to Jacksonville), Christian Kirk (Arizona to Jacksonville), Jarvis Landry (Cleveland to New Orleans), Allen Robinson (Chicago to Los Angeles Rams), JuJu Smith-Schuster (Pittsburgh to Kansas City), and Sammy Watkins (Baltimore to Green Bay)
• Tight ends Evan Engram (New York Giants to Jacksonville), Gerald Everett (Seattle to Los Angeles Chargers), Austin Hooper (Cleveland to Tennessee), O. J. Howard (Tampa Bay to Buffalo), Hayden Hurst (Atlanta to Cincinnati), Kyle Rudolph (New York Giants to Tampa Bay), and C. J. Uzomah (Cincinnati to New York Jets)
• Offensive linemen Terron Armstead (New Orleans to Miami), Duane Brown (Seattle to New York Jets), Alex Cappa (Tampa Bay to Cincinnati), La'el Collins (Dallas to Cincinnati), Austin Corbett (Los Angeles Rams to Carolina), Ted Karras (New England to Cincinnati), Andrew Norwell (Jacksonville to Washington), Rodger Saffold (Tennessee to Buffalo), Brandon Scherff (Washington to Jacksonville), and Laken Tomlinson (San Francisco to New York Jets)
• Defensive linemen Carlos Dunlap (Seattle to Kansas City), Folorunso Fatukasi (New York Jets to Jacksonville), Dante Fowler (Atlanta to Dallas), Akiem Hicks (Chicago to Tampa Bay), Sebastian Joseph-Day (Los Angeles Rams to Los Angeles Chargers), and Jarran Reed (Kansas City to Green Bay)
• Linebackers Randy Gregory (Dallas to Denver), Jordan Hicks (Arizona to Minnesota), Myles Jack (Jacksonville to Pittsburgh), Chandler Jones (Arizona to Las Vegas), Cory Littleton (Las Vegas to Carolina), Haason Reddick (Carolina to Philadelphia), Von Miller (Los Angeles Rams to Buffalo), Foyesade Oluokun (Atlanta to Jacksonville), Za'Darius Smith (Green Bay to Minnesota), and Bobby Wagner (Seattle to Los Angeles Rams)
• Defensive backs James Bradberry (New York Giants to Philadelphia), Stephon Gilmore (Carolina to Indianapolis), Casey Hayward (Las Vegas to Atlanta), J. C. Jackson (New England to Los Angeles Chargers), Tyrann Mathieu (Kansas City to New Orleans), Marcus Maye (New York Jets to New Orleans), Rodney McLeod (Philadelphia to Indianapolis), D. J. Reed (Seattle to New York Jets), Justin Reid (Houston to Kansas City), Logan Ryan (New York Giants to Tampa Bay), Charvarius Ward (Kansas City to San Francisco), Jordan Whitehead (Tampa Bay to New York Jets), Darious Williams (Los Angeles Rams to Jacksonville), Marcus Williams (New Orleans to Baltimore), and Xavier Woods (Minnesota to Carolina)
• Kicker Greg Zuerlein (Dallas to New York Jets)
• Punters Johnny Hekker (Los Angeles Rams to Carolina), Thomas Morstead (Atlanta to Miami), and Bradley Pinion (Tampa Bay to Atlanta)

Trades

The following notable trades were made during the 2022 league year:

• March 16: Seattle traded QB Russell Wilson and a 2022 fourth round selection to Denver in exchange for QB Drew Lock, TE Noah Fant, and DE Shelby Harris along with 2022 first, second, and fifth round selections, and 2023 first and second round selections.^[4]
• March 16: Indianapolis traded QB Carson Wentz and a 2022 second round selection to Washington in exchange for a 2022 second round selection and a 2023 conditional third round selection.^[5]
• March 16: Chicago traded LB Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for 2022 second and sixth round selections.^[6]
• March 16: Las Vegas traded DE Yannick Ngakoue to Indianapolis in exchange for CB Rock Ya-Sin.^[7]
• March 16: Dallas traded WR Amari Cooper and a 2022 sixth round selection to Cleveland in exchange for 2022 fifth and sixth round selections.^[8]
• March 16: New England traded LB Chase Winovich to Cleveland in exchange for LB Mack Wilson.^[9]
• March 17: Green Bay traded WR Davante Adams to Las Vegas in exchange for 2022 first and second round selections.^[10]
• March 18: Houston traded QB Deshaun Watson and a 2024 sixth round selection to Cleveland in exchange for 2022 first and fourth round selections, 2023 first and third round selections, and 2024 first and fourth round selections.^[11]
• March 21: Atlanta traded QB Matt Ryan to Indianapolis in exchange for a 2022 third round selection.^[12]
• March 23: Kansas City traded WR Tyreek Hill to Miami in exchange for 2022 first, second, and fourth round selections along with 2023 fourth and sixth round selections.^[13]
• April 5: Miami traded WR DeVante Parker and a 2022 fifth round selection to New England in exchange for a 2023 third round selection.^[14]
• April 28: Tennessee traded WR A. J. Brown to Philadelphia in exchange for 2022 first and third round selections.^[15]
• April 28: Baltimore traded WR Marquise Brown and a 2022 third round selection to Arizona in exchange for a 2022 first round selection.^[16]
• August 15: Philadelphia traded TE J. J. Arcega-Whiteside to Seattle in exchange for FS Ugo Amadi.^[17]
• October 9: Atlanta traded LB Deion Jones and a 2024 seventh round selection to Cleveland in exchange for a 2024 sixth round selection.^[18]
• October 20: Carolina traded RB Christian McCaffrey to San Francisco in exchange for 2023 second, third, and fourth round selections, and a 2024 fifth round selection.^[19]
• October 26: Chicago traded DE Robert Quinn to Philadelphia in exchange for a 2023 fourth round selection.^[20]
• October 27: The New York Giants traded WR Kadarius Toney to Kansas City in exchange for 2023 third and sixth round selections.^[21]
• October 31: Chicago traded LB Roquan Smith to Baltimore in exchange for LB A. J. Klein along with 2023 second and fifth round selections.^[22]
• November 1: Detroit traded TE T. J. Hockenson a 2023 4th round and a conditional 2024 4th round to Minnesota in exchange for a 2023 second-round selection and a 2024 third-round selection.^[23]
• November 1: Pittsburgh traded WR Chase Claypool to Chicago in exchange for a 2023 second-round selection.^[24]
• November 1: Denver traded LB Bradley Chubb along with a 2025 fifth-round selection to Miami for RB Chase Edmonds, a 2023 first-round selection, and 2024 fourth-round selection.^[25]
• November 1: Buffalo traded RB Zack Moss and a conditional 2023 sixth-round pick to Indianapolis for RB Nyheim Hines.^[26]

Retirements

Notable retirements

• WR Larry Fitzgerald - Eleven-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro (one first-team, two-second team), and 2016 Walter Payton Man of the Year. Played for Arizona during his entire 18-year career.^[27]
• RB Frank Gore – Five-time Pro Bowler and one-time second-team All-Pro. Played for San Francisco, Indianapolis, Miami, Buffalo, and the New York Jets during his 16-year career.^[28]
• K Stephen Gostkowski – Four-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro (two first-team, one second-team), and three-time Super Bowl champion (XLIX, LI, LIII). Played for New England and Tennessee during his 15-year career.^[29]
• TE Rob Gronkowski – Five-time Pro Bowler, four-time first-team All-Pro, four-time Super Bowl champion (XLIX, LI, LIII, and LV), and 2014 Comeback Player of the Year. Played for New England and Tampa Bay during his 11-year career.^[30]
• RB Todd Gurley – Three-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro (two first-team, one second-team), 2015 Offensive Rookie of the Year, and 2017 Offensive Player of the Year. Played for the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams and Atlanta during his six-year career.^[31]
• G Richie Incognito – Four-time Pro Bowler. Played for the St. Louis Rams, Buffalo, Miami, and the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders during his 15-year career.^[32]
• SS Malcolm Jenkins – Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time second-team All-Pro, and two-time Super Bowl champion (XLIV and LII). Played for New Orleans and Philadelphia during his 13-year career.^[33]
• LB Ryan Kerrigan – Four-time Pro Bowler. Played for Washington and Philadelphia during his 11-year career.^[34]
• C Alex Mack – Seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time second-team All-Pro. Played for Cleveland, Atlanta, and San Francisco during his 13-year career.^[35]
• LB Clay Matthews III – Six-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro (one first-team, one second-team), and Super Bowl XLV champion. Played for Green Bay and the Los Angeles Rams during his 11-year career.^[36]
• QB Ben Roethlisberger – Six-time Pro Bowler, two-time Super Bowl champion (XL and XLIII), and 2004 Offensive Rookie of the Year. Played for Pittsburgh during his entire 18-year career.^[37]
• OT Mitchell Schwartz – Four-time All-Pro (one first-team, three second-team) and Super Bowl LIV champion. Played for Cleveland and Kansas City during his nine-year career.^[38]
• CB Richard Sherman - Five-time Pro Bowler, five-time All-Pro (three first-team, two second-team), and Super Bowl XLVIII champion. Played for Seattle, San Francisco, and Tampa Bay during his 10-year career.^[39]
• LB Terrell Suggs - Seven-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro (one first team, one second team), two-time Super Bowl champion (XLVII and LIV), 2003 Defensive Rookie of the Year, and 2011 Defensive Player of the Year. Played for Baltimore, Arizona, and Kansas City during his 19-year career.^[40]
• FS Eric Weddle – Six-time Pro Bowler, five-time All-Pro (two first-team, three second-team), and Super Bowl LVI champion. Played for the San Diego Chargers, Baltimore, and the Los Angeles Rams during his 14-year career.^[41]
• OT Andrew Whitworth – Four-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro (two first-team, one second-team), 2021 Walter Payton Man of the Year, and Super Bowl LVI champion. Played for Cincinnati and the Los Angeles Rams during his 16-year career.^[42]

Other retirements

Draft

The 2022 NFL Draft was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, from April 28–30.^[101] Jacksonville, by virtue of having the worst record in 2021, held the first overall selection and selected linebacker Travon Walker out of Georgia.

Pro Football Hall of Fame Members

Len Dawson

Dawson played 19 seasons in the NFL and AFL as a quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Dallas Texans / Kansas City Chiefs, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987. He was a one-time Pro Bowler and six-time AFL All-Star, four-time All-AFL (two first-team, two second-team), three-time AFL champion (1962, 1966, and 1969), and Super Bowl IV champion and MVP. He died on August 24, age 87.^[110]

Ray Guy

Guy played 14 seasons in the NFL as a punter with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler, eight-time All-Pro (six first-team, two second-team), and three-time Super Bowl champion (XI, XV, and XVIII). He died on November 3, age 72.^[111]

Franco Harris

Harris played 13 seasons in the NFL as a running back with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990. He was a nine-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro (one first-team, two second-team), four-time Super Bowl champion (IX, X, XIII, and XIV), and Super Bowl IX MVP. Receiver of the Immaculate Reception. Harris died on December 20, age 72.^[112]

Don Maynard

Maynard played 15 seasons in the NFL and AFL as a wide receiver with the New York Giants, the New York Jets, and the St. Louis Cardinals, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987. He was a four-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro (two first-team, two second-team), and Super Bowl III champion. He died on January 10, age 86.^[113]

Hugh McElhenny

McElhenny played 13 seasons in the NFL as a halfback with the San Francisco 49ers, the Minnesota Vikings, the New York Giants, and the Detroit Lions, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1970. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team All-Pro. He died on June 17, age 93.^[114]

Charley Taylor

Taylor played 14 seasons in the NFL as a wide receiver/halfback with the Washington Redskins, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984. He was an eight-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro (one first-team, five second-team). He died on February 19, age 80.^[115]

Charley Trippi

Trippi played nine seasons in the NFL as a halfback/quarterback with the Chicago Cardinals, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1968. He was a two-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro (one first-team, one second-team) and 1947 NFL Champion. He died on October 19, age 100.^[116]

Rayfield Wright

Wright played 13 seasons in the NFL as an offensive tackle with the Dallas Cowboys, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006. He was a six-time Pro Bowler, six-time All-Pro (three first-team, three second-team), and two-time Super Bowl champion (VI and XII). He died on April 7, age 76.^[117]

Active personnel

• Jaylon Ferguson, Baltimore Ravens linebacker. Died June 21 of an accidental drug overdose, age 26.^[118]
• Jeff Gladney, Arizona Cardinals cornerback. Died in a car accident on May 30, age 25.^[119]
• Dwayne Haskins, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback. Died on April 9, after being hit by a truck while walking on highway, age 24.^[120]
• Adam Zimmer, offensive analyst for the Cincinnati Bengals. Died on October 31, of chronic ethanol (alcohol) use disorder, age 38.^[121]
• Note: Damar Hamlin was pronounced dead but was successfully revived by medical staff^[122][123]

Scheduling changes

Week 11:

• The Kansas City–Los Angeles Chargers game, originally scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS, was flexed into NBC Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. ET, replacing the originally scheduled Cincinnati–Pittsburgh game, which was moved to 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS.^[136]
• The Cleveland–Buffalo game was moved from Highmark Stadium near Buffalo to Ford Field in Detroit due to a severe winter storm affecting the Buffalo region.^[137]

Week 14:

• The Miami–Los Angeles Chargers game, originally scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS, was flexed into NBC Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. ET, replacing the originally scheduled Kansas City–Denver game, which was moved to 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS.^[138]

Week 15:

• On December 5, the NFL announced that three games would be moved to Saturday, December 17, and aired exclusively on NFL Network: Indianapolis–Minnesota at 1:00 p.m. ET, Baltimore–Cleveland at 4:30 p.m. ET, and Miami–Buffalo at 8:15 p.m. ET.^[139]
• One of the other games that the league had the option of scheduling on Saturday, New York Giants–Washington, was flexed into NBC Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. ET, replacing the originally scheduled New England–Las Vegas game, which was moved to 4:05 p.m. ET on Fox.^[139][140]
• The remaining game that the league had the option of scheduling on Saturday, Atlanta–New Orleans, remained on Sunday afternoon, December 18.^[139][140]
• The Detroit–New York Jets game was cross-flexed from Fox to CBS, remaining at 1:00 p.m. ET.^[140]

Week 17:

• The Pittsburgh–Baltimore game, originally scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS, was flexed into NBC Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. ET, replacing the originally scheduled Los Angeles Rams–Los Angeles Chargers game, which was moved to 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS.^[141]
• The Buffalo–Cincinnati Monday Night Football game was suspended indefinitely with 5:58 remaining in the first quarter after Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest after tackling Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins and was taken to the hospital for treatment.^[142] It was later announced that the game would be canceled in its entirety.^[143]

Week 18:

• All Week 18 games were initially listed with a kickoff time of "TBD" ^[144] and the schedule was released on January 2 after most of Week 17 was completed.

• Two games with playoff implications were moved to a Saturday doubleheader on ESPN, ABC, and ESPN+. Kansas City–Las Vegas at 4:30 pm ET and Tennessee–Jacksonville (which decided the AFC South champion) at 8:15 pm ET.
• The Detroit–Green Bay game was moved to the final Sunday Night Football game at 8:20 pm ET on NBC.^[145]
• All remaining games were scheduled on Sunday afternoon at either 1:00 or 4:25 pm ET on either CBS or Fox.^[146]

Division

Conference

Bracket

Individual season awards

The 12th Annual NFL Honors, saluting the best players and plays from the 2022 season, was held on February 9, 2023, at the Phoenix Symphony Hall in Phoenix, Arizona.

All-Pro team

The following players were named first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press:^[236]

Players of the Week/Month

The following were named the top performers during the 2022 season:

Brian Flores' discrimination lawsuit

On February 1, former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores sued the NFL, the Dolphins, the New York Giants, and the Denver Broncos, alleging racism, violations of federal employment law, and that his interviews were a sham meant solely to fulfill the Rooney Rule.^[261] The lawsuit also alleges that during Flores' tenure with the Dolphins, team owner Stephen M. Ross pressured him to deliberately lose games, offering him $100,000 for each game he lost in order for the Dolphins to get better draft picks for the following season and that Ross fired Flores after he refused to comply with this pressure.^[262] The lawsuit seeks damages and injunctive relief in the form of changes to hiring, retention, termination, and pay transparency practices for coaching and executive positions in the NFL.^[263]

On April 6, former Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks and former assistant coach Ray Horton joined the lawsuit with similar allegations against the league, the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, and Tennessee Titans.^[264]

Deshaun Watson sexual assault allegations

In March and April 2021, then-Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson was accused by 22 massage therapists of sexual misconduct.^[265]

On March 11, 2022, a grand jury declined to indict Watson on criminal charges related to "harassment and sexual misconduct". On that date he still faced 22 civil lawsuits, many alleging sexual misconduct and assault.^[266] After being cleared of criminal charges, Watson was traded to the Cleveland Browns and agreed to a new, fully guaranteed, five-year, $230 million contract with the Browns, the most guaranteed money in NFL history.^[267]

After two more accusers joined the lawsuit in June 2022, Watson settled 23 of the 24 lawsuits in July and August.^[268]

On August 1, as a result of these allegations, Watson was suspended for six regular season games to start the 2022 season by judge Sue Lewis Robinson.^[269] Two days later, the NFL appealed the suspension, seeking to extend the suspension to at least a full season as well as seeking a fine and establishing a requirement for Watson to seek treatment for his conduct.^[270] The appeal was reviewed by former New Jersey Attorney General Peter C. Harvey.^[271][272]

On August 18, after the NFL and the NFLPA reached a settlement, Watson was suspended for the first 11 games of the season and was fined $5 million.^[273]

Miami Dolphins tampering

On August 2, it was announced that following a six-month independent investigation by Mary Jo White and a team of lawyers, the Miami Dolphins would forfeit their 2023 first-round draft pick and a 2024 third-round pick for violating the league's anti-tampering policy on three occasions from 2019 to 2022 by engaging in impermissible conversations with quarterback Tom Brady and coach Sean Payton, both of whom were under contract with other teams. Dolphins owner Stephen M. Ross was also fined $1.5 million and suspended through October 17, and was prohibited from being at the Dolphins' facility or representing the team at any event until then. He was also prohibited from attending any league meeting before the annual meeting in 2023 and was removed from all league committees indefinitely.^[274] Vice chairman/limited partner Bruce Beal was fined $500,000 and will not be permitted to attend any league meetings for the rest of the 2022 season.^[275]

Sale of the Denver Broncos

On August 9, the league owners unanimously approved the sale of the Denver Broncos from the trust of Pat Bowlen to a group consisting of Rob Walton, Carrie Walton Penner, Greg Penner, Mellody Hobson, Condoleezza Rice, and Lewis Hamilton for $4.65 billion.^[276][277]

Damar Hamlin cardiac arrest

Damar Hamlin is removed from Paycor Stadium in an ambulance.

During the week 17 Monday Night Football game on January 2 between Buffalo and Cincinnati, Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin collapsed and remained motionless after making a tackle on Cincinnati wide receiver Tee Higgins. Medical staff rushed to his side near midfield to perform CPR, and used a defibrillator on Hamlin before taking him by ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. It was later revealed that he had suffered cardiac arrest and was in critical condition. The game was halted, and the two teams returned to their locker rooms. At the time, there was 5:58 remaining in the first quarter, with Cincinnati leading 7–3.

It was reported by both ESPN and Westwood One^[278] that play would resume and teams would be given a warm-up period for five minutes. However, the game remained suspended, and the NFL later denied the reports it planned to compel the teams to finish the game that evening.^[279] Shortly after 10 p.m., an hour after Hamlin's medical emergency, the game was postponed until further notice by the NFL.^[280]

The following day, the NFL released a statement saying the game would not be resumed that week, but that it had not made a decision on when or whether it would be rescheduled.^[281][282] On January 5, the NFL announced that the game would be canceled entirely, saying, it was "difficult, but necessary" under the "extraordinary circumstances". It was the first time since the 1987 players' strike that a regular season game was canceled.^[283] Addressing the implications for team standings and playoffs, it said "not playing the Buffalo-Cincinnati game to its conclusion will have no effect on which clubs qualify for the postseason. No club would qualify for the postseason and no club will be eliminated based on the outcome of this game."^[284] As a result, both teams finished the season with only 16 regular season games, making it the first time since 1935 in which some teams played more regular season games than the others.^[143]

Head coaches

Front office personnel

Uniform changes

• Dallas announced the return of their throwbacks inspired by the team's uniforms worn from 1960 to 1963 on July 21. They wore on Thanksgiving Day and for the first time since the 2012 season.^[332]
• Green Bay announced the return of the all-white uniforms used in the NFL's former Color Rush program for one game.^[333] The uniform features Green Bay's typical white jerseys with white pants. They used this combination for the first time since 2019.^[334]
• The Los Angeles Rams swapped the designation of their white uniforms. The throwback-inspired white uniforms introduced as an alternate in 2021 now serve as the team's primary. The "bone" uniform serves as the third design and was worn for two games.^[335][336]
• New England announced the return of their red "Pat Patriot" throwback uniforms as an alternate uniform on June 22. They donned this design for the first time since the 2012 season.^[337][338] The Patriots reintroduced their silver pants on October 24, wearing them for the first time since the team's 2020 uniform redesign.^[339][340]
• New Orleans announced the return of their late-1960s home throwbacks on November 16.^[341] They were worn for one game.^[342] The team last wore this uniform in 2016.^[343]
• The New York Giants announced the return of their uniforms worn between 1980–1999 for two games on July 20.^[344]
• Philadelphia introduced a new wordmark, replacing the previous design installed in 1996.^[345]
• Pittsburgh wore a throwback uniform for one game modeled after their design worn during the 1972 season. These uniforms commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception and were worn for the first time since 2019.^[346]
• San Francisco modified their uniforms to feature their classic wordmark, matching their home end zone design. The uniforms include three shoulder stripes, replacing the two stripe design.^[347][348]
• Washington revealed new branding as the Washington Commanders on February 2.^[349] They retained their burgundy and gold colors while introducing a new "W" logo and new uniforms.^[350] The new burgundy uniforms have gold numerals trimmed in white, while the new white uniforms feature burgundy and white gradient numerals with black trim. The team also introduced black third jerseys with gold numerals trimmed in burgundy.^[351]

Alternate helmets

In June 2021, the NFL approved a rule that would allow teams to wear alternate helmets for the 2022 season, repealing a one-helmet rule put in place in 2013. Alternate helmets are required to be accompanied with alternate uniforms.^[352]

• Arizona introduced a black helmet with a red undertone on July 24. The helmet was worn for one preseason game^[353] and two regular season games.^[354][355]
• Atlanta reintroduced a red helmet to pair with their throwback uniform on June 1 after previously using the helmet with this set from 2009 to 2012. They were worn for two games during the team's 2022 campaign.^[356]
• Carolina introduced a new black helmet on July 19. This helmet was worn with the team's all-black uniform for one game.^[357] Carolina's black uniform remained their primary colored design despite the rule which requires that alternate helmets be paired with alternate uniforms.^[358]
• Chicago introduced an orange helmet on July 24. It is paired with Chicago's alternate orange uniforms for two games.^[359]
• Cincinnati introduced a white alternate helmet on July 14. The design retains the helmet's black stripes and is accompanied with their all-white uniforms used in the former "Color Rush" program.^{[360][361][362]}
• Dallas announced their alternate throwback uniform listed above will include the white helmet worn by the team from 1960 to 1963.^[363] Additionally, Dallas wore an alternative set of decals with the white shell to pair with the "Color Rush" uniform introduced in 2015.^[364]
• Houston introduced a "Battle Red" helmet to pair with their like-colored alternate uniform on July 12. It is the first time that the team will utilize a different colored helmet in franchise history (the team has used "Deep Steel Blue" helmets since their inception in 2002). The helmet was worn for one game.^[365]
• New England's alternate throwback uniform listed above includes a white helmet with the former "Pat Patriot" logo.^[337]
• New Orleans introduced a new black helmet to pair with their white alternate uniform on June 16.^[366]
• The New York Giants announced as part of the above throwback uniform, they will bring back the navy blue helmets with the "GIANTS" wordmark worn in the 1980s and 1990s.^[344]
• The New York Jets introduced a new black helmet to pair with their black alternate uniforms on July 22.^[367]
• Philadelphia introduced a new black helmet to pair with their black alternate uniform on March 29.^[368]
• Washington introduced a new alternate set with black helmets in their rebrand on February 2, becoming the first team in the league to unveil secondary helmets. The helmets feature the gold "W" logo on the front of the shell, the player's jersey number on each side, and the flag of Washington, D.C. in burgundy and gold on the back.^[369]

Patches

• Buffalo wore a patch with the number 3 on it in week 18 in support of Damar Hamlin after his in-game collapse the previous week.^[370]
• Miami announced a patch to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the team's 1972 undefeated season on August 3. The patch was featured on their throwback uniform for one game.^[371]
• Pittsburgh will accompany their 1972-inspired throwback uniforms with a patch to commemorate the Immaculate Reception's 50th anniversary. The patch features a silhouetted Franco Harris.^[346]
• Washington unveiled a logo commemorating the 90th anniversary of the franchise.^[372]

Diversity initiative

During weeks 4 and 5, players, executives, and coaches wore patches and decals of international flags to represent their national heritage. Over 50 countries and territories were represented, with over 200 individuals participating.^{[373][374][375]}

Television

This was the ninth and final season under the current broadcast contracts with CBS, Fox, and NBC, before new 11-year contracts for all three networks begin in 2023.^[376] This included "cross-flexing" (switching) Sunday afternoon games between CBS and Fox before or during the season, regardless of the conference of the visiting team. Super Bowl LVII was televised by Fox in English and Fox Deportes in Spanish.

Following the expiration of their eight-year contract, ESPN and ABC agreed to a one-year bridge contract for the 2022 season, before their new 11-year contract takes effect in 2023 to coincide with those of the other three broadcasters. As with the previous season, ESPN held the rights to a Saturday doubleheader during the final week of the season, simulcast with ABC, along with more simulcasts of select Monday Night Football games on ABC. Also this year, ABC aired its first exclusive game since 2005 on September 19, as part of a split-network doubleheader with ESPN.^[377]

Under separate deals, this was the second postseason in NBC and ABC/ESPN's seven- and five-year deals to air the Sunday and Monday night Wild Card games, respectively.^[378][379] Fox replaced CBS in televising two Wild Card games during this postseason.^[380]

The 2022 season was the first time that three games aired on Christmas Day, consisting of an afternoon doubleheader on CBS and Fox. with the traditional Sunday Night football game on NBC.

NFL Network continued to televise select regular season games, including three International Series games.^[381][377]

Fox Deportes aired Spanish-language coverage of Fox games. ESPN Deportes did the same for ESPN/ABC games, CBS games was available on SAP, and Universo/ Telemundo Deportes (select games) did the same for NBC games.

ESPN2's Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli was renewed for an additional season, taking it through the 2024 NFL season.^[382] CBS will continue to produce alternative, youth-oriented telecasts of selected games on sister channel Nickelodeon; Nickelodeon simulcast CBS's Christmas Day game, marking its first regular-season broadcast, however Nickelodeon did not air a Wild Card game this season as in previous years.^[134]

DirecTV signed a multi-year deal with Amazon Prime Video to allow Thursday Night Football to be shown on DirecTV's packages for business customers. This agreement is primarily to allow entertainment venues such as bars and casinos to continue offering the games without reconfiguring their systems to accommodate a streaming-only platform (for details on Amazon's deal, see § Streaming below).^[383]

This was the final season under DirecTV's deal for exclusive rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket out-of-market sports package. DirecTV has held exclusive rights since the package's launch in 1994. DirecTV executives have questioned the current value of NFL Sunday Ticket after losing money over the past few years. In September 2021, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suggested that NFL Sunday Ticket could be more attractive on a digital platform.^[384] On December 22, 2022, it was announced that Google had acquired the rights to Sunday Ticket and that it would be streamed on YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels starting in 2023.^[385]

Streaming

The Chargers and Chiefs playing in the first Thursday Night Football game broadcast exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

This was the first year of a 12-year deal in which Thursday Night Football exclusively streamed on Amazon Prime Video and Twitch (outside of the home markets which those games will still air on local over the air broadcast stations).^[386] Fox and NFL Network opted out of their final season of the previous five year (2018–2022) TNF deal, allowing Amazon to take over one season before its original eleven year (2023–2033) TNF agreement was to go into effect.^[387]

For residential customers, this was also the first year in which ESPN+ exclusively (outside of the home markets) streams one International Series game per year (for Commercial customers this game was broadcast on ESPN+ for Business which was available on DirecTV)^[388] along with simulcasts of all ABC games.^[389]

Paramount+ continues to simulcast all CBS games and Peacock simulcasts all NBC games.

The NFL's mobile streaming contract with Verizon expired following the 2021 season (which included mobile streaming of live local and nationally televised games along with cellular streaming of NFL Network); it was reported that the league was preparing to move these rights behind a paywall of an in-house subscription service.^[390][391] In July, the NFL announced that NFL Game Pass would be replaced in the United States by NFL+, which will stream in-market games and the NFL Network on mobile devices only, radio broadcasts for all games, and most out-of-market preseason games. The on-demand full, condensed, and "All 22" bird's-eye view game replays offered by NFL Game Pass will now be under a premium tier of NFL+.^{[392][393][394]}

Radio

In March, the NFL renewed its national radio contract with Westwood One, maintaining its package of radio rights to all primetime, marquee, and playoff games, while adding audio coverage of other events such as the NFL Draft and NFL Honors. It also greatly expands the ability for its broadcasts to be distributed for free via digital platforms, including via local affiliates' "primary digital platforms", and via the NFL app.^[395] Compass Media, ESPN Radio and Sports USA will continue to broadcast select Sunday afternoon games nationally on radio.

Personnel changes

On March 16, ESPN signed Joe Buck and Troy Aikman — who were Fox's lead commentary team for 20 seasons — to a multi-year deal to become the new lead commentators of Monday Night Football.^[396][397] ESPN's previous MNF broadcasters Steve Levy and Louis Riddick continued as ESPN's secondary NFL broadcast team, with Dan Orlovsky replacing Brian Griese who left ESPN for a coaching job with San Francisco.^{[398][399][400]}

On March 23, Amazon announced that longtime NBC play-by-play announcer Al Michaels and ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit would serve as its lead broadcast team for Thursday Night Football.^[401][402] Amazon later added ABC News reporter Kaylee Hartung as its sideline reporter. Mike Tirico—who had been NBC's secondary play-by-play announcer and Michaels' designated fill-in since joining the network in 2016^[403][404]—succeeded Michaels as the lead commentator for Sunday Night Football, with Maria Taylor succeeding him as lead studio host^[405] and Jason Garrett replacing Drew Brees on the Football Night in America panel.^[406] Melissa Stark replaced Michele Tafoya as sideline reporter.^[407] Amazon's studio panel will be led by Fox's Charissa Thompson, with analysts Tony Gonzalez, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Richard Sherman, and Andrew Whitworth. Bleacher Report and Turner Sports' Taylor Rooks and NBC's Michael Smith also made contributions.^[408]

With Buck and Aikman's departure, Fox's number-2 commentary team of Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen were promoted to the network's top pairing.^[409] Replacing Burkhardt and Olsen were Joe Davis and Daryl Johnston, starting his third stint as Fox's number 2 analyst. Kristina Pink, who was one of Fox's two TNF reporters from 2018 to 2021, returned to Sunday reporting duties to join the team of Adam Amin and Mark Schlereth. Robert Smith also moved from Fox's college football coverage to join Chris Myers.

Most watched regular season games

• DH = doubleheader; Single = singleheader SNF = Sunday Night Football; MNF = Monday Night Football; TNF = Thursday Night Football

*Note – All single and DH matchups listed in table are the matchups that were viewed to the largest percentage of the market.

In addition, the January 2 Buffalo–Cincinnati game averaged 23.8 million viewers across ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 from approximately 8:30 pm to 10:09 pm, making it the most-watched Monday Night Football broadcast since the series was moved to ESPN in 2006.^[412]