The next major event on the NFL offseason schedule is the Annual League Meeting, which takes place in Palm Beach, Florida, and brings together team owners, executives, head coaches, front office staff, and the media in advance of the draft.
Although there is a lot on the four-day program, the NFL owners’ vote on new bylaws and adjustments to the playing rules is the most important issue. Clubs and the NFL Competition Committee submit recommendations to amend the rules and bylaws, and any changes must be accepted by seventy-five percent (24) of team owners.
The list of several proposals this year that will be put to a vote for the 2025 season is summarised below:
Club Playing Rules Proposals
A proposal put out by the Detroit Lions seeks to do away with the automatic first down as a punishment for unlawful contact and defensive holding. (Section 4, Rule 8)
The Green Bay Packers’ suggested modification would eliminate the use of a play known as the “tush push.” The new rule would make it illegal for an offensive player to push a teammate who is positioned exactly behind the snapper and gets the snap right away. (Section 1 of Rule 12)
By providing both teams with an opportunity to possess the ball regardless of the result of the first possession, the Philadelphia Eagles plan would harmonise the overtime regulations for the regular season and the postseason. In the regular season, the 10-minute overtime duration would be extended to 15 minutes. (Section 1 of Rule 16.)
The NFL Competition Committee suggested extending the use of instant replay to address game administration concerns and/or provide the on-field officials with objective advice on some parts of a play when there is unmistakable video evidence.
The use of instant replay is limited to plays when a flag was thrown. A facemask penalty, horse-caller tackle, tripping, a defenceless player, or a rough/running collision with the kicker might all result in the flag being raised.
After a one-season experiment in 2024, the NFL Competition Committee is recommending that the free kick play be made permanent with some changes. Among the modifications are:
On a touchback, moving the dead ball site to the 35-yard line.
enabling a team that is behind to call an onside kick whenever they choose.
Club Bylaws Proposals
The Lions also want to change a bylaw that would change how the playoffs are currently seeded. If a Wild Card club has a better regular season record, the move would allow them to be placed higher than Division Champions. (The Constitution & Bylaws, Article XX, Section 20.2)
Detroit’s final suggestion might give teams some wiggle room with regard to roster caps of 90 men. A player placed on Reserve or injured prior to or on the day of the 53-man roster cutdown would not count against the 90-man maximum under the new rule, unless they are designated for return. A player who has been cleared to begin his 21-day practice window from the Injured Reserve list is known as a DFR player. According to the Constitution and Bylaws, Section 17.1
In order to reduce the roster to 53 players, the NFL Competition Committee suggested a bylaw amendment that would permit clubs to select two players for return. As stated in the Constitution and Bylaws, Article XVII, Section 17.16
Additionally, the NFL Competition Committee wants to allow playoff-bound clubs to get two more DFRs, raising the maximum from eight to ten. Section 17.16 of Article XVII of the Constitution and Bylaws
Lastly, Point Differential was suggested by the NFL Competition Committee as the third criteria for contract awards. (Section 18.5, Article XVIII, Constitution and Bylaws)
Resolutions Proposals
The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to make changes to what’s allowed during the two-day negotiating period prior to the start of the new league year. The resolution change would let clubs during the two-day negotiation period to have one video or phone call with a prospective unrestricted free agent and his agent and permit clubs to arrange for the player’s travel upon agreeing to terms with a prospective unrestricted free agent. Travel would still not be allowed until the beginning of the new league year.
The Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders submitted a proposal to permit clubs to prepare kicking footballs (K-Balls) before gameday, similar to the process permitted for game footballs. Currently, K-Balls must be prepped within a 60-minute window on the day of the game.
The Commanders proposal would 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. It would also require clubs hosting Wild Card games to provide scouting credentials to all teams within the same conference who are participating in the postseason.
Additionally, the NFL Competition Committee wants to allow playoff-bound clubs to get two more DFRs, raising the maximum from eight to ten. Section 17.16 of Article XVII of the Constitution and Bylaws
Lastly, Point Differential was suggested by the NFL Competition Committee as the third criteria for contract awards. (Section 18.5, Article XVIII, Constitution and Bylaws)
