Tuesday brought about several NFL rule changes to be enforced starting in 2025. Among them are an expansion to the use of replay assist, along with a tweak to the overtime format.
It was known well in advance of this week’s league meetings that consideration would be given to broadening the use of replay assistance. To no surprise, then, the league has committed to doing so. Expanded use of video replay to help on-field officials was experimented with in 2024, and that will continue next year, as detailed by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
As a result, penalties issued for calls such as roughing the passer, intentional grounding and unnecessary roughness are now subject to review (without a coach’s challenge being needed). Video officials can correct calls by nullifying penalties when clear evidence overturning the original decision exists. With that said, Tuesday’s changes do not allow for penalties to be issued upon review for plays where no flag is thrown.
The NFL recently amended playoff overtime rules to ensure that both teams receive the ball at least once in the extra frame. That change brought about the expectation that it would soon be duplicated in the regular season.
Indeed, Dianna Russini of The Athletic notes both teams will have possession even in the event of a touchdown being scored by one of them in regular-season contests.
Despite that tweak, OT during the regular season will still consist of a 10- (rather than 15-) minute quarter. That could result in time constraints for the second team to receive the ball, depending on how long the first team’s touchdown drive lasts. Nonetheless, the result of the coin toss at the beginning of the extra frame will carry less weight in the wake of Tuesday’s change.
These two changes come on the same day that the NFL’s dynamic kickoff was approved on a full-time basis (with touchbacks being moved up five yards to encourage further upticks in the rate of returns). Consideration to amending onside kicks will take place later this offseason; the same is also true of the tush push play.
