The NFL approved several rule changes for the 2026 season at the NFL's owners meetings on Tuesday.
Key changes include:
- Onside kicks in the 2026 season will be allowed to be declared at any time during the game. The previous rule only allowed onside kicks in the fourth quarter.
- The kicking team's incentive to intentionally kick the ball out of bounds when kicking off from the 50-yard line has been eliminated.
- The kickoff alignment requirements have been modified for the receiving team's players in the setup zone.
- In the event there is a work stoppage involving the game officials represented by the NFL Referees Association, for one year only, the NFL will allow its officiating department in New York to correct clear and obvious misses made by on-field officials that impact the game.
The NFL will also allow the league to assist on-field officials to rule on potential disqualifications for flagrant football acts and non-football acts.
"This will allow disqualification and will allow a flag to be put on the field by New York (league office) if they see an action that is egregious enough," Competition Committee Co-Chairman Rich McKay said. "Over time, we will probably expand replay assist even more. This was the first time that we ventured into the world of putting a flag down and having New York step in and disqualify that player."
