The tush push survived for at least another season.
The oft-debated quarterback sneak, made famous by the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, almost was banned. There weren’t enough votes to abolish the play, so it stays. But plenty of rules for this season will be new.
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Here’s a look at the key rule changes for this season.
Kickoffs change, again
Last season we saw the birth of the dynamic kickoff, but it didn’t result in a big enough rise in returns to satisfy the NFL. So there was another change. Touchbacks will now go to the 35-yard line, instead of the 30 like last season. Perhaps that will have coaches think twice about having their kickers boot it out of the end zone on most kickoffs, settling for the touchback.
Also, teams can declare an onside kick at any point in the game if they’re trailing. Last season trailing teams could only do so in the fourth quarter.
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OT goes to playoff format
Regular season games will now adopt the playoff rules, which have been in place since 2022. Both teams will have a possession, even if the team getting the ball first scores a touchdown. The only way the game will end after one possession is if the defense scores a touchdown or a safety. Otherwise, both teams will have a possession during the 10-minute overtime period no matter what. If, after one possession for each team, the score remains tied, then the game shifts to a sudden death format.
Technology for 1st down measurements
The NFL will move to technology to measure first downs. You may have seen the “Hawk-Eye” technology in action this preseason.
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Theoretically that will give a more accurate measurement and also speed up the process, as the technology replaces the traditional “chain gang” on the sideline, though the chain crew will remain as a secondary option. That doesn’t fix the issue of actually spotting the ball, which officials will still do after plays, but it changes how the first downs are measured when it’s close.
More replay assist
Instant replay will be expanded, with replay assist advising on-field officials for a variety of calls “when clear and obvious video evidence is present.” Per the NFL, here are the added penalties and situations in which replay assist could be used:
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• Roughing the passer based only on a hit to the passer’s head or neck area
• Intentional Grounding only if relative to the pocket or ball landing beyond the line of scrimmage
• Unnecessary roughness based only on: Forcibly contacting a runner when he is out of bounds, or forcibly hitting a defenseless player’s head or neck area
• Twisting, pulling or turning the facemask or helmet opening
• A horse-collar tackle
• Tripping
• Roughing or running into the kicker
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