Tag: NFL rules

NFL introduces new kickoff return rules, bans hip-drop tackle

NFL introduces new hybrid kickoff return rules, bans hip-drop tackle for 2024

The annual NFL owners meetings are taking place this week and the league has already passed some new rules for the upcoming season. Starting in 2024, players can no longer use the hip-drop tackle method.

“What’s happening on the hip-drop is the defender is encircling tackling the runner and then swinging their weight and falling on the side of their leg, which is their ankle or their knee,” NFL competition committee chairman and Falcons CEO Rich McKay explained on Monday.

While the hip-drop tackle has caused some serious injuries in recent years, even the NFLPA was against removing the technique due to the difficulty of enforcing it.

The NFL also changed the trade deadline to Week 9, giving teams an additional week to complete trades, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Arguably the biggest change to come from these meetings was the new hybrid kickoff return rules. The NFL will adopt an XFL-style kickoff on a one-year trial basis starting in 2024. Read the full rule change below, as shared by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero:

 

NFLPA opposes NFL’s proposed ban on hip-drop tackle

“The players oppose any attempt by the NFL to implement a rule prohibiting a ‘swivel hip-drop’ tackle,” the NFLPA said in a statement.

The NFL has proposed a ban on the so-called “hip-drop tackle” that the league says increases the likelihood of injury during a play.

In their new rule proposals for the 2024 season, the NFL has suggested a 15-yard penalty if a player “grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms; and unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner’s leg(s) at or below the knee.”

The NFL Players Association made it known in a statement Wednesday that they are opposed to the potential new rule.

“The players oppose any attempt by the NFL to implement a rule prohibiting a ‘swivel hip-drop’ tackle,” the NFLPA wrote on its Twitter/X page. “While the NFLPA remains committed to improvements to our game with health and safety in mind, we cannot support a rule change that causes confusion for us as players, for coaches, for officials, and especially, for fans. We call on the NFL, again, to reconsider implementing this rule.”

Former Denver Broncos defensive lineman Shelby Harris also spoke out about the proposed rule:

NFL owners will vote on the league’s new rule proposals next week.

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What are the NFL overtime rules for the 2024 Super Bowl?

A review of overtime rules for the Super Bowl this year.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2023 and has been updated.

It’s that time of year, folks. The Super Bowl is here. And, with both the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs being the two best teams in the league, there’s a strong chance this game will probably be close.

SHOP: KC Chiefs Super Bowl champs USA TODAY commemorative cover

If it is a close game, that means we could get overtime. What that used to mean in the playoffs is that the team who scored first wins the game in the sudden death period.

Guess what? Not. Anymore.

Thanks to 2022’s ridiculous Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs game, the NFL changed the rules so that both teams will have a chance to touch the ball, should they get to overtime.

I know that might sound a bit confusing. If it is, don’t worry. Here’s a quick explainer on how it works.

What are the NFL’s Super Bowl pass interference rules in 2024?

It’s not complicated!

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2022 and has been updated.

You’re probably here because someone in the 2024 Super Bowl just committed an egregious pass interference penalty, as dictated by the officials. Or you’re here because the officials missed what was clearly a pass interference penalty, and everyone on social media and in your living room is arguing about what the rule actually means.

It’s the Super Bowl; would you have it any other way?

The pass interference answer applies to both offensive players and defenders, and it’s rather simple (if not always in application).

According to the NFL 2023 rulebook: “It is pass interference by either team when any act by a player more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage significantly hinders an eligible player’s opportunity to catch the ball.”

So what are those acts that can “significantly hinder” a catch attempt? Here we go:

Acts that are pass interference include, but are not limited to:

  1. Contact by a player who is not playing the ball that restricts the opponent’s opportunity to make the catch;
  2. Playing through the back of an opponent in an attempt to make a play on the ball;
  3. Grabbing an opponent’s arm(s) in such a manner that restricts his opportunity to catch a pass;
  4. Extending an arm across the body of an opponent, thus restricting his ability to catch a pass, and regardless of whether the player committing such act is playing the ball;
  5. Cutting off the path of an opponent by making contact with him, without playing the ball;
  6. Hooking an opponent in an attempt to get to the ball in such a manner that it causes the opponent’s body to turn prior to the ball arriving; or
  7. Initiating contact with an opponent by shoving or pushing off, thus creating separation.

There you have it!

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What are the 2024 NFL challenge rules? How many each team gets, timeouts assessed and more

A quick explainer to help you understand the NFL challenge rules and how many each team get per game.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2023 and has been updated.

For people who don’t follow the NFL closely, or even those who do, some of the rules can be a bit confusing. So in anticipation of the 2024 Super Bowl we’re going through a few of the rules to help fans get caught up and knowledgeable as they watch their favorite teams.

One rule that’s somewhat confusing is the rule that allows coaches to challenge rulings on the field. Here’s what you need to know about the rule.

  1. Coaches are given red flags, which they can use to toss onto the field before the next snap. If the flag gets tossed, in initiates an instant replay review.
  2. Coaches get two challenges a game.
  3. If the coach fails the challenge, he’s docked a timeout. If he successfully challenges, timeouts remain unchanged. If the coach successfully challenges twice… he gets a third challenge. No fourth challenges ever. If a coach challenges with no timeouts, that’s illegal — and a 15-yard penalty.
  4. There are some plays that can’t be challenged, for a couple of reasons. Some plays are automatically reviewed every time, so a coach doesn’t need to challenge them — this includes scoring plays, interceptions and a few others. Coaches also can’t challenge some judgment calls made by officials (holding, for example).
  5. A team can’t commit a penalty before the next snap and then challenge.

Here is the full rule for your perusal:

ARTICLE 1. COACHES’ CHALLENGE. In each game, a team will be permitted two challenges that will initiate Instant Replay reviews. The Head Coach will initiate a challenge by throwing a red flag onto the field of play before the next legal snap or kick. Each challenge will require the use of a team timeout. If a challenge is upheld, the timeout will be restored. A challenge will only be restored if a team is successful on both of its challenges, in which case it shall be awarded a third challenge, but a fourth challenge will not be permitted under any circumstances.

A team may challenge any reviewable play identified in Article 5 below, except when the on-field ruling is:

     (a) a score for either team;

     (b) an interception;

     (c) a fumble or backward pass that is recovered by an opponent or goes out of bounds through an opponent’s end zone; or

     (d) a muffed scrimmage kick recovered by the kicking team.

A team may not challenge a reviewable play:

     (a) after the two-minute warning of each half;

     (b) throughout any overtime period;

     (c) after committing a foul that delays the next snap; and

     (d) after exhausting all of its challenges or timeouts.

If a team initiates a challenge when it is not permitted to do so, it will be charged a timeout.

Penalty: For initiating a challenge when a team has exhausted its timeouts: Loss of 15 yards.

There you have it.

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Super Bowl 2024 coin toss rules, explained: How deferring works and more

The coin toss isn’t necessarily as simple as it sounds.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2023 and has been updated.

The coin toss seems like it should be the most simple part of a football game, right?

Every NFL game starts with one of these. A team calls heads or tails, and that will decide who gets to receive the football on the opening kickoff of each half of the game. Sounds easy enough.

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But there’s a lot more that goes into it. It’s an essential part of how any game plays out. One wrong move from a team captain, and that squad could start slow or go into the half without the ball down a few scores. If an official mishears a player? It could throw everything off.

It’s happened before. Back in 2019 year, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott told referee Walt Anderson that the team would defer to the second half after winning the toss. But Anderson misheard him and said the Los Angeles Rams would get the ball in the first and second halves. It was eventually corrected and Prescott made sure to say “DEFER” loud and clear a week later. But still, mistakes were made.

So just to make sure we’re clear now, here are the rules for the coin toss for Super Bowl LVIII, per the NFL’s rulebook:

Not more than three minutes before the kickoff of the first half, the Referee, in the presence of both team’s captains (limit of six per team, active, inactive or honorary) shall toss a coin at the center of the field. Prior to the Referee’s toss, the call of “heads” or “tails” must be made by the captain of the visiting team, or by the captain designated by the Referee if there is no home team. Unless the winner of the toss defers his choice to the second half, he must choose one of two privileges, and the loser is given the other. The two privileges are:

  1. The opportunity to receive the kickoff, or to kick off; or
  2. The choice of goal his team will defend.

If the coin does not turn over in the air or the toss is compromised in any way, the Referee shall toss it again. The captain’s original call may not be changed.

Penalty: For failure to comply: Loss of coin-toss option for both halves and overtime, and loss of 15 yards from the spot of the kickoff for the first half only.

For the second half, the captain who lost the pregame toss is to have the first choice of the two privileges listed in (a) or (b), unless one of the teams lost its first and second half options, or unless the winner of the pregame toss deferred his choice to the second half, in which case he must choose (a) or (b) above. Immediately prior to the start of the second half, the captains of both teams must inform the Referee of their respective choices.

A captain’s first choice from any alternative privileges listed above is final and not subject to change.

There you have it, folks.

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LOOK: NFL teams approve 0 jersey number, one preseason cut day among new changes

Take a look at the new changes, including jersey number 0 and more, to come out of the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix.

The NFL owners meetings represent an opportunity for all 32 clubs to meet and lay out the boundaries for how their version of pro football will be carried out during the 17-game season.

On Tuesday, the league announced there were nine approved changes to the playing rules, three changes to the bylaws, and three changes to the resolutions.

One of the big changes that fans will readily see is the jersey number change. The number zero has been added to the available jersey numbers, and Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Calvin Ridley has already embraced it.

Here is a look at all of the changes for 2023.

NFL votes to approve rule allowing players to wear No. 0 jersey

Which #Chiefs player will be the first to wear the No. 0 jersey?

The NFL has adopted another rules change surrounding jersey numbers.

In April of 2021, the Kansas City Chiefs proposed a rule to allow the expanded use of single-digit jersey numbers. That proposal was eventually approved, but now the league has voted to modify it even further.

The Philadelphia Eagles proposed a rule change this offseason to allow teams to use zero (“0”) as a jersey number. NFL owners have voted to approve this rule change, which means that a Chiefs player will wear the number 0 for the first time in 2023. Offensive and defensive linemen will be the only two position groups barred from wearing the number 0.

With Trent McDuffie and Joshua Williams switching their jerseys this offseason, it’d make sense for Jaylen Watson to join them. He previously wore the No. 0 jersey at Washington State.

In addition to this new jersey number rule, the league has expanded the jersey numbers which placekickers and punters can wear. They were previously only permitted to wear numbers 1-19. Now, they can use any jersey numeral between 0-49 and 90-99.

This change opens up the possibility of a specialist switching back to their college uniform as well. Tommy Townsend previously wore No. 43 at the University of Florida. Maybe, he’s not too interested in switching back, though.

Nonetheless, there are plenty of possibilities for jersey numbers with the newly-implemented rules. We’ll just have to see how it all plays out for Kansas City.

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The Lions made several rule change proposals related to coach’s challenges in games

The Lions made several rule change proposals related to coach’s challenges in games

The NFL released the proposed playing rules and bylaw changes that were submitted by the teams for the upcoming season. The Detroit Lions are responsible for three of the proposed playing rules changes.

All three involve the coach’s challenge feature during games. It’s an area where the team has had some issues in recent years dating back to the infamous “Jim Schwartz Rule” where teams are not allowed to challenge plays that are automatically reviewed.

One proposal would allow coaches to challenge personal fouls called on the field. While the reason behind the Lions’ proposal isn’t stated, it’s easy to recall a couple of recent situations where Detroit was victimized by phantom personal foul calls.

The second would expand the replay official’s jurisdiction to allow for consultation on an assessed penalty. Both of those proposals deal with Rule 15, Section 3 of the rule book.

The third relates to Rule 15, Section 1 and would allow each team a third coach’s challenge during the game regardless of the outcome of the first two challenges.

Detroit also made one other proposal regarding the game status of a third quarterback, something the Lions have not typically carried on the active roster. From the press release,

By Detroit; amends Article XVII, Section 17.3, to allow a club to designate an emergency third quarterback from its Inactive List or Practice Squad who would be eligible to enter a game in the event the first two quarterbacks on the game day Active List are ruled “Out.”

The proposals will be voted on at the upcoming owner’s meetings later in March.