For the players and coaches, a joint practice is an opportunity to see a different opponent before the preseason games begin. For the equipment staff, it is an opportunity—and a challenge—to combine two separate football operations on the same field and make it all work. In 2026, teams across the league once again scheduled joint practices before preseason games, giving players different schemes, different looks and a more competitive environment. But behind that preparation is a great deal of coordination between the two equipment staffs. Locker-room space, field access, practice equipment, footballs, jerseys, laundry and individual player needs all have to be addressed before the first whistle.
A joint practice essentially adds another layer of work to an equipment staff’s normal training-camp responsibilities. The visiting team brings its own equipment operation, routines and individual player needs, while the host staff still has to maintain its regular daily responsibilities. Even something as simple as practice jersey colors becomes an important consideration. Teams often have established routines for what they wear during different portions of practice, but when two teams share a field, those routines have to be coordinated so the players are clearly distinguishable from one another. The two equipment staffs work closely together to make the visit as seamless as possible, and that can include the home team taking care of the visiting team's laundry while it is at the facility. It is a relatively small gesture, but one that can make a long day of practice and travel a little easier for the visiting equipment staff.
There is also a relationship side to joint practices that doesn't show up on the practice statistics. Two equipment staffs have to work together closely, often relying on communication and trust to keep both operations moving. They may have different ways of doing things, different equipment preferences and different routines, but for those few days they are sharing a facility and trying to make the experience work for both organizations. The best joint practices almost become a temporary partnership between equipment rooms. The players get the competition and the coaches get new looks, but behind the scenes the equipment staffs are quietly solving problems, communicating and keeping both teams moving. And when everything goes right, nobody notices—which is usually the best indication that the equipment staff did its job.