The NFL is expected to release its complete 2026 schedule later this month, though we already know who everyone will be playing.

NFL VP of broadcast planning Mike North appeared on the It’s Always Game Day in Buffalo this week. He revealed that the full schedule release could be delayed by about a week or so.

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“Most fans know full well that the schedule comes out in mid-May now,” North said. “That’s what we’ve done the last five or six years. That’s sort of our target. Is there any magic to May 12, 13, 14? No. Is there any real downside to May 19, 20, or 21? No. I don’t think it’s coming out in June, but that second week in May has been our target the last few years, but I don’t know that it’s impossible to think about that third week in May.”

Who will have the league’s toughest schedules in 2026?

Nov 3, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/arizona/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Arizona Cardinals;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0" data-yga="{"yLinkElement":"context_link","yModuleName":"content-canvas","yLinkText":"Arizona Cardinals","ySubModuleName":"anchor_text","yHasCommerce":false}">Arizona Cardinals</a> quarterback <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/29325/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Jacoby Brissett;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0" data-yga="{"yLinkElement":"context_link","yModuleName":"content-canvas","yLinkText":"Jacoby Brissett","ySubModuleName":"anchor_text","yHasCommerce":false}">Jacoby Brissett</a> (7) warms up before the game against the <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/dallas/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Dallas Cowboys;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0" data-yga="{"yLinkElement":"context_link","yModuleName":"content-canvas","yLinkText":"Dallas Cowboys","ySubModuleName":"anchor_text","yHasCommerce":false}">Dallas Cowboys</a> at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

The Arizona Cardinals, who are coming off a 3-14 season in 2025, actually have the league’s hardest schedule in 2026.

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According to Walter Football, these five NFL teams have the hardest schedules in 2026:

The Cardinals’ full opponents for 2026

Arizona will play 17 games in 2026.

Cardinals’ home opponents

Cardinals’ away opponents

Best of luck in 2026, Arizona.

This story was originally published by The Spun on May 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.