Updates

During the NFL Annual Meeting, scheduled for March 30-April 1, clubs will discuss the following proposed rules changes. All proposals must be approved by 75% (24) of the clubs to be adopted.

Here’s a look at the 2025 rules change proposals.

2025 PLAYING RULES PROPOSALS SUMMARY

• By Competition Committee; amends Rule 6, Section 1, to make permanent the new form of free kick play implemented in 2024 designed to 1) resemble a typical scrimmage play by aligning players on both teams closer together and restricting movement to reduce space and speed and 2) promote more returns, subject to the following changes: (a) modifies the alignment requirements for receiving team players in the setup zone; (b) changes the dead ball spot after a touchback to the 35-yard line if the ball lands in the end zone and is downed in the end zone by the receiving team or goes out of bounds behind the receiving team’s goal line; (c) changes the alignment requirements for the kicking team on an onside kick; and (d) permits the kicking team to declare an onside kick at any time during the game if trailing its opponent.
• By Philadelphia; amends Rule 16, Section 1, to align the postseason and regular season overtime rules by granting both teams an opportunity to possess the ball regardless of the outcome of the first possession, subject to a 15-minute overtime period in the regular season.
• By Competition Committee; amends Rule 15, to expand Instant Replay’s ability to advise the on-field officials on specific, objective aspects of a play and/or to address game administration issues when clear and obvious video evidence is present.
• By Detroit; amends Rule 8, Section 4, to eliminate an automatic first down as a penalty imposed for defensive holding and illegal contact.
• By Green Bay; amends Rule 12, Section 1, to prohibit an offensive player from pushing a teammate who was lined up directly behind the snapper and receives the snap, immediately at the snap.

2025 bylaw PROPOSALS summary

• By Competition Committee; to permit clubs to designate two players for return at the roster reduction to 53 players. 
• By Competition Committee; to permit clubs participating in the postseason to receive two additional DFRs increasing the maximum from 8 to 10. 
• By Competition Committee; to insert Point Differential as the third tiebreaker for awarding contracts.
• By Detroit; amends Article XX, Section 20.2 of the Constitution & Bylaws, to amend the current playoff seeding format to allow Wild Card teams to be seeded higher than Division Champions if the Wild Card team has a better regular season record.
• By Detroit; Article XVII, Section 17.1 of the Constitution and Bylaws, to exclude from the 90-player limit a player placed on Reserve/Injured before or on the day of the roster reduction to 53 players, unless such player is Designated for Return.

2025 Resolutions Proposals SUMMARY

• G-1. By Pittsburgh; to permit clubs during the two-day negotiation period to: (i) have one video or phone call with a prospective unrestricted free agent and his player agent; and (ii) permits clubs to arrange for the player’s travel upon agreeing to terms with a prospective unrestricted free agent. Travel cannot occur until the beginning of the new league year.
• G-2. By Baltimore, Cleveland, Houston, Las Vegas, Minnesota, Philadelphia, and Washington; to permit clubs to prepare kicking footballs (“K-Balls”) before game day, similar to the process permitted for game footballs.
• G-3. By Washington; to permit clubs that may qualify for the postseason to obtain scouting credentials for two consecutive games (Weeks 17 and 18) played by a potential postseason opponent. Also requires clubs hosting Wild Card games to provide scouting credentials to all teams within the same conference who are participating in the postseason.

Check out the Rules Change Process