Bears release full offseason calendar originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
When will the Bears get the first look at their new rookies? When will Matt Eberflus and his coaching staff finally start working with players? When will any OTA stragglers need to report back to Halas Hall? The Bears answered all these questions and more when they released a detailed offseason calendar, filled with key dates.
Beginning of voluntary offseason program - April 4
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New head coaches get a two-week head start to invite players to come back to the facilities and begin learning the new program. Matt Eberflus and the Bears will take advantage, as April 4 is the first day available.
Rookie Minicamp - May 6-8
One week after the draft, this year’s rookie class is invited to come to Halas Hall to get to work. This includes players selected during the draft, and undrafted free agents. It’ll be the first time coaches get the players together in person, both in the classroom and on the practice field.
OTAs - May 16-17, 19, 23-24, 26, June 6-7, 9
Organized team activities. These nine days are optional, but it’s a great time for the team to get together with coaches, both in the classroom and on the grass. For a new coaching staff this time is even more valuable, since new systems and cultures are being installed. There are no contact drills in OTAs, but teams can ramp up to 7-on-7 or even 11-on-11 drills.
Veteran minicamp - June 14-16
The final minicamp of the offseason program is the first mandatory minicamp. Things ramp up significantly as well, since teams can now work for 10 hours a day, including two 3.5 hour practices on the field (although the second one is limited to walkthroughs). However the players still won’t have pads on, and there will be no live tackling.
After mandatory minicamp, the teams go on their final long break of the summer before coming back for Training Camp in late July.
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