The NFL competition committee has submitted five rule change proposals for consideration at next week's league meeting.
Here are the proposals:
- Permit the kicking team to declare an onside kick at any time during the game.
- Eliminate the kicking team's incentive to intentionally kick the ball out of bounds when kicking off from the 50-yard line.
- Modify the kickoff alignment requirements for the receiving team players in the setup zone.
- Allow league personnel to consult with on-field officials when considering disqualifications for both flagrant football acts and non-football acts without being called on the field.
- For one year only, to allow the NFL Officiating Department to correct clear and obvious misses made by on-field officials that impact the game, in the event that there is a work stoppage involving the game officials represented by the NFL Referees Association.
The league is pursuing a new collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Referees Association. Per ESPN, the NFL is considering hiring replacement officials if a deal is not reached.
There were also two resolution proposals made by the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns:
- By Pittsburgh; to make permanent the change implemented during the 2025 season that permits clubs to have one video or phone call with up to five prospective unrestricted free agents during the two-day negotiation period, and to permit clubs to make travel arrangements with such players upon agreeing to terms.
- By Cleveland; to allow draft selections to be traded up to five seasons in the future.
