What NFL Teams have a Bye Week 9? Everyone who's out this week

The 2026 NFL season is approaching its halfway point, and Week 9 brings a relatively quiet period for teams taking a break from the competition. Only two franchises are missing from the schedule this week: the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans .

Both AFC teams will have an opportunity to recover, evaluate their performances and prepare for the second half of the regular season.

Their absence also means fantasy football managers will need to make adjustments, particularly if they rely on players from either roster.

According to the NFL's official schedule, Pittsburgh enters its bye week with a 6-2 record, putting it in a strong position as the campaign progresses.

Tennessee , meanwhile, has experienced a much more difficult start, sitting at 1-7 after eight games.

For the Steelers , the break arrives at an important moment. With six victories already secured, the coaching staff can use the extra preparation time to address weaknesses and ensure the squad remains competitive during the demanding final stretch.

The Titans have a different challenge. Their 1-7 record leaves little room for further mistakes, making the opportunity to regroup particularly valuable.

The coaching staff will need to find ways to improve performances on both sides of the ball if Tennessee hopes to turn its season around.

Which NFL teams are playing in Week 9?

While Pittsburgh and Tennessee are unavailable, the remaining 30 franchises will compete across the Week 9 schedule.

The action includes several interesting matchups, beginning with the Jacksonville Jaguars visiting the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football.

Sunday's programme features the Cincinnati Bengals against the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid, alongside the Dallas Cowboys facing the Indianapolis Colts .

Other notable games include the New York Jets against the Kansas City Chiefs , the Detroit Lions visiting the Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants taking on the Philadelphia Eagles .

The Buffalo Bills will also meet the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football, bringing Week 9 to a close.

For supporters, the two bye teams are therefore the only franchises without a fixture this week. The full list is:

- Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North): Bye Week 9

- Tennessee Titans (AFC South): Bye Week 9

What does a bye week mean in the NFL?

Every NFL franchise receives one scheduled bye during the regular season. Because the league operates an 18-week schedule but each team plays only 17 games, every roster has one week without a competitive fixture.

The break gives players time to recover from injuries and the physical demands of the season. Coaches can also review performances, make tactical adjustments and prepare for upcoming opponents without having to organise a game that weekend.

The 2026 bye-week schedule began in Week 5 and continues through Week 14, although there are no teams resting during Week 12.

Week 9 is relatively light, with just Pittsburgh and Tennessee sitting out. However, Week 11 will bring the biggest interruption, when six franchises take their scheduled break: the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks .

The remaining bye weeks will involve four teams in Weeks 10 and 13, followed by two in Week 14.

For now, Steelers and Titans supporters will have to wait another week to see their teams return to action. Meanwhile, the other 30 franchises face another important opportunity to improve their standings as the race towards the playoffs continues.