2025 NFL Rule Change Proposals

The NFL released the full list of rule Playing Rules, Bylaws and Resolution Proposals to be considered for the 2025 season on Wednesday. 

Here’s the full release if you want to read more into the specifics: 2025 Club Proposals – Playing Rules, Bylaws & Resolutions

2025 Playing Rule Proposals Summary

1. By Detroit; amends Rule 8, Section 4, to eliminate an automatic first down as a penalty
   imposed for defensive holding and illegal contact.
2. By Green Bay; amends Rule 12, Section 1, to prohibit an offensive player from pushing a
   teammate who was lined up directly behind the snapper and receives the snap, immediately at the snap.
3. By Philadelphia; amends Rule 16, Section 1, 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.

2025 Bylaw Proposals Summary

1. By Detroit; amends Article XX, Section 20.2 of the Constitution & Bylaws, 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.
2. By Detroit; Article XVII, Section 17.1 of the Constitution and Bylaws, to exclude from the
   90-player limit a player placed on Reserve/Injured before or on the day of the roster
   reduction to 53 players, unless such player is Designated for Return.

2025 Resolution Proposals Summary

1. By Pittsburgh; to permit clubs during the two-day negotiation period to: (i) have one video or phone call with a prospective unrestricted free agent and his player agent; and (ii) permits clubs to arrange for the player’s travel upon agreeing to terms with a prospective unrestricted free agent. Travel cannot occur until the beginning of the new league year.
2. By Baltimore, Cleveland, Houston, Las Vegas, Minnesota, Philadelphia, and Washington; to permit clubs to prepare kicking footballs (“K-Balls”) before game day, similar to the process permitted for game footballs.
3. By Washington; to permit clubs that may qualify for the postseason to obtain scouting
   credentials for two consecutive games (Weeks 17 and 18) played by a potential postseason opponent. Also requires clubs hosting Wild Card games to provide scouting credentials to all teams within the same conference who are participating in the postseason.