5 Joint Practice Sessions That Could Be Super Bowl Matchups

The NFL Monday announced rookie and veteran reporting dates for training camp. All 32 teams will be in full swing the week of July 20. The league also announced dates for 23 joint practice sessions that will be taking place in August.

There have been more limits placed on training camp activity in recent years, shortening practices and time in pads in an attempt to curtail injuries. Training camp intensity has scaled back a bit, which is why these joint practices can sometimes raise the heat.

In most cases, teams that get together for joint practice sessions in the preseason are not scheduled to meet during the regular season. After all, teams don’t want to give regular-season opponents any inside scouting opportunities.

But it’s entirely possible that teams participating in joint practice sessions could meet in the playoffs — maybe even the Super Bowl. Some matchups maybe not. The Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders are getting together on August 12, and the chances that these teams meet in Super Bowl LXI are astronomical.

Not many of these pairings are serious Super Bowl previews, but here are five joint practice sessions that could be.

49ers-Chargers

These teams get together on August 18 in El Segundo, Calif., as Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh gets to scrimmage against the team he took to the Super Bowl 14 years ago. The San Francisco 49ers have an uphill battle this season in the tough NFC West, but these teams were a combined 23-11 last season and they are both legit playoff contenders in 2026.

Ravens-Vikings

The Baltimore Ravens head to Eagan, Minn., to practice with the Minnesota Vikings on August 19. These teams both missed the playoffs a year ago, but stranger things have happened. Lamar Jackson could be poised for a big season. As for the Vikings? This team went 9-8 last season with mediocre quarterback play — and they were 14-3 two seasons ago with Sam Darnold under center. If Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell can work his magic on Kyler Murray, Minnesota could surprise.

Eagles-Patriots

The Philadelphia Eagles will practice with the New England Patriots beginning August 19 in Foxborough. Drake Maye and the Patriots lost in last year’s Super Bowl, while Jalen Hurts and the Eagles won the Super Bowl two years ago. This would be a rematch of Super Bowl LII. Famous for Nick Foles’ “Philly Special” touchdown, the Eagles’ 41-33 win produced the second-most combined points in a Super Bowl.

Bears-Bengals

Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears visit Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals starting on August 20. Despite missing the playoffs the last three seasons, Burrow recently said the 2026 roster looks like the best Bengals team he’s been a part of — and that includes a team that went to Super Bowl LVI in 2021 and reached the AFC title game a year later. The Bears, meanwhile, enter this season with plenty of momentum after going 11-6 last year and taking the Rams to overtime in a divisional playoff loss.

Texans-Panthers

This will actually be the second joint practice session for the Carolina Panthers that could be a Super Bowl matchup. After visiting the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 19, Carolina will host the Houston Texans one week later. The Panthers certainly are a long shot to reach the Super Bowl after going 8-9 last season, but they are the defending NFC South champions. The Texans, meanwhile, go into 2026 with the best defense in the NFL. While this is an unlikely Super Bowl matchup, the hype for a game between the first two picks of the 2023 draft, Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, would be massive.

Complete joint practice schedule