NFL Owners adopted multiple changes to playing rules, bylaws and resolutions for 2025 during this week's Annual League Meeting, including a new spotting of the football after kickoffs resulting in touchbacks.
Detroit's suggestion to eliminate automatic first downs for an offense after a defense is flagged for illegal contact or defensive holding was not approved.
The group debated the "tush push" but delayed making a final determination on whether the play that helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LIX will be outlawed. NFL Owners are scheduled to meet again in May when the Spring League Meeting is hosted in Minnesota — ideally, it will feel like spring by then.
What was approved?
New spot for touchbacks
A year after dramatically changing kickoff procedures by instituting the "dynamic kickoff," the league added another element it believes will increase kickoff returns.
The 2024 rule placed the spotting of a touchback after a kickoff at the 30-yard line. The 2025 modification made permanent the dynamic kickoff and changed the spotting of the football to the 35-yard line.
ESPN's Kevin Seifert noted there is a substantial projected increase in the number of kickoff returns under this rule.
Kicking teams will have more incentives to place the ball in the landing zone — shy of the end zone.
Overtime opportunity
Regular-season games that go into overtime will no longer end immediately after a touchdown.
The extra period will remain at 10 minutes (instead of 15 minutes for postseason games), but the kicking team will now have a chance to possess the football once even if the receiving team scores a touchdown on its first possession.
The only way a kicking team would not be able to possess the football is if the receiving team kept the ball for the entire 10 minutes and scored as time expired. If neither team scores, the game will end in a tie.
In 2022, Owners approved a rule change to allow the kicking team to possess the football even if the receiving team scored a field goal on the first possession.
According to NFL Media Research, teams that have won the coin toss to start overtime have a 30-17-2 record since 2022, going 13-5-2 in 2022, 5-8 in 2023 and 12-4 in 2024.
The Vikings went 2-0 in overtime games in 2022 after winning the coin toss at Buffalo (scored a field goal; ended Bills possession with a Patrick Peterson INT) and against Indianapolis (teams swapped punts before a field goal).
Minnesota was 0-1 in overtime in 2023. The Vikings lost the coin toss and forced a punt by the Bengals but were unsuccessful on consecutive tush push plays, giving the ball back to Cincinnati, which drove for a field goal.
The Vikings went 1-0 in overtime in 2024, despite losing the coin toss at Chicago. A massive sack by Jonathan Greenard upended the Bears possession and reversed momentum. Minnesota drove for the game-winning field goal.
Expanded replay
Owners voted 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.
Seifert noted what will and will not be covered under this expansion.
So, even though there was video evidence of Sam Darnold's facemask being used to pull the QB to the ground in Los Angeles in Week 8, the no-call would not become a penalty.
Roster management
Teams will now be allowed to designate two players for return when they reduce their roster to 53 players, and teams that make the postseason will receive an additional two opportunities to designate players for return. The regular-season max is eight per team; playoff teams will have a max of 10.
Tiebreaking procedures
Owners opted to add a third tiebreaker to help determine the order for claiming players via waivers.
The first tiebreaker remains as the team with the lowest strength of schedule. The second tiebreaker remains as the team with the lowest strength of victory. Now, a third tiebreaker will lead to the team with the worst net point differential having the priority for claiming a player.
Contacting players during the negotiation period
Pittsburgh's proposal to allow clubs to conduct a video or phone call with up to five prospective Unrestricted Free Agents during the two-day negotiation period ahead of free agency was approved on a one-year basis. Clubs also can make travel arrangements once they have agreed to terms with a player, but the travel can't occur until after the New League Year begins.
Football conditioning
The Vikings, Ravens, Browns, Texans, Raiders, Eagles and Commanders proposal allowing teams to prepare kicking footballs ("K-balls") before game day was approved. This will be similar to the process used for footballs used by the offense.
Access for scouts
Washington's proposal to allow clubs that qualify for the postseason to obtain scouting credentials for two consecutive games (Weeks 17 and 18) played by a potential postseason opponent was approved, as well as the requirement that clubs hosting Wild Card games also provide scouting credentials to all teams within the same conference who are participating in the postseason.
