The NFL is reportedly considering multiple rule changes before the 2025 season that could change how the game is played.
Every offseason, NFL teams are allowed to submit potential rule changes that the league will consider to improve the game, with this past season featuring changes to the kickoff rules and hip drop tackles.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the league has already decided to measure first downs electronically in the 2025 season, but multiple other submissions have been made for potential changes to gameplay and playoff seeding.
The first rule change was submitted by the Green Bay Packers to ban the “tush push” play made famous by the Philadelphia Eagles.
More specifically, Green Bay proposed that the league “prohibit any offensive player from pushing a teammate who was lined up directly behind the snapper and receives the snap, immediately at the snap,” according to The Athletic.
This proposal comes as no surprise following a statement by Packers Team President and CEO Mark Murphy claiming that he would “like to see the league prohibit pushing or aiding the runner,” as reported by DX.
Philadelphia has also made a proposal of its own, choosing to recommend that the league make regular-season and postseason overtime rules the same.
Currently, regular-season overtime rules dictate that a team can win on the first possession if a touchdown is scored, whereas postseason overtime rules state that both teams will receive a possession regardless of the outcome of the first possession.
Now, the Eagles are looking to align these overtime rules.
“To align the postseason and regular-season overtime rules by granting both teams an opportunity to possess the ball regardless of the outcome of the first possession, subject to a 15-minute overtime period in the regular season,” states the organization in the proposal, per CBS Sports.
Although this would increase the total gameplay for regular-season games that go to overtime, it would also allow each team the opportunity to score and keep themselves alive in the matchup.
Finally, the Detroit Lions have submitted two significant proposals for rule changes, one of which could affect play on the field and the other changing the NFL playoff seeding rules.
The Lions’ first proposal would change the rules for defensive holding and illegal contract calls, with Detroit proposing reducing the penalties associated with these fouls.
Currently, defensive holding and illegal contact calls result in a five-yard penalty and an automatic first down for the offense, but Detroit is looking to remove the automatic first down provided to the offense.
Detroit wrote in the proposal that the “Current penalty enforcement is too punitive for the defense,” and this proposal would improve the “Competitive equity” of the game, per CBS Sports.
The Lions also submitted a proposal to change the seeding for the NFL Playoffs. In this system, division winners are no longer granted home games, and the teams are seeded based solely on overall record.
Detroit recommends the rule change: “To amend the current playoff seeding format to allow wild-card teams to be seeded higher than division champions if the wild-card team has a better regular-season record,” per NFL.com.
This potential change would seemingly still grant division winners a guaranteed spot in the playoffs, though it would allow teams with better regular season records to secure a home playoff game.
There is currently no indication when NFL owners will vote on these potential rule changes. For the amendment to pass, 24 of the 32 owners need to vote in favor of a rule change.