What are new rules for the 2025 NFL season?
- Published
The National Football League (NFL) is changing some of its rules heading into the 2025 season.
Each year, the NFL's competition committee receives and considers suggestions from figures across the game before deciding if any rule changes are needed.
If they are deemed to be for the good of the game, they are approved before the start of a new season.
BBC Sport explains the rule changes coming to the NFL for the forthcoming season.
Get in touch
Send us your questions
Rules on kick-offs
Dynamic kick-offs - first introduced in 2024 - are staying, with a couple of modifications
In 2024, the NFL introduced dynamic kick-offs - bringing players from both teams closer at such restarts to resemble normal scrimmages.
Initially introduced as a test, the rule has been made permanent for the 2025 season, but with a couple of tweaks.
If a receiver opts to touch back - bending a knee to the floor when receiving a kick-off - the play is over and the first down is taken from their 35-yard line. Last season, this was at the 30-yard line.
The receiving team can now also have up to three players in the set-up zone, but not on the restraining line. No more than one player can be in each of the three set-up zone areas.
Onside kick-offs
Kansas City Chiefs' Harrison Butker took an onside kick during Super Bowl 59 earlier this year
There are also changes to onside kick-offs, where teams opt to take a shorter kick-off in the hope of keeping the ball instead of giving it back to the opposition.
Previously, teams could only declare they were going to make an onside kick in the fourth quarter. Now, any team can do this as long as they are trailing at the time.
When a team is taking an onside kick, all players apart from the kicker must have one foot on the 35-yard line. Their other foot must be grounded until the ball has been kicked.
How are teams sorted into conferences in the NFL?
Overtime procedures
Both teams will get the chance to start a possession in overtime in regular and post-season matches.
Should a game go into overtime and the team taking the first possession score, the opposition will also be given the chance to have possession and score.
In regular-season matches, overtime will be limited to 10 minutes.
Instant replay assist
There will be increased use of instant replays by NFL officials for the 2025 season
NFL clubs have voted to allow the use of instant replays to help with on-field decisions.
They will be used for specific objective incidents and to address game-administration issues where clear and obvious video evidence is present.
When a flag is thrown for face mask, horse collar, tripping or hits to the head, those penalty flags can be picked up if the video official has clear and obvious video evidence to rule whether or not those offences took place.
This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.
What is Ask Me Anything?
Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.
We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.
The team will find out everything you need to know and be able to call upon a network of contacts including our experts and pundits.
We will be answering your questions from the heart of the BBC Sport newsroom, and going behind the scenes at some of the world's biggest sporting events.
Our coverage will span the BBC Sport website, app, social media and YouTube accounts, plus BBC TV and radio.