NFL Teams Propose Four Rule Changes, Including Onside Kick Replacement & Penalty Challenges

The NFL is reviewing four proposed rule changes submitted by teams ahead of the 2024 season. The proposed changes mainly pertain to special teams’ procedures and challenge limitations.

For any rule change to pass, the proposal must go to a vote by the NFL’s owners and receive 75% support. There is a review period, however, to clarify and prepare amendments.

The Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts both submitted proposals to amend the current challenge rules. Detroit is proposing to expand a team’s ability to challenge a third ruling. As it is now, teams may only get a third challenge if their first two are successful. The Lions want to change rule two that teams only need to succeed on one of two challenges.

The Colts, meanwhile, are making a more straightforward proposal and requesting that teams or officials gain the ability to challenge penalty calls inside of two minutes. The league currently doesn’t allow teams to challenge any foul call, even though this has led to several games being decided by controversial officiating decisions.

The Eagles submitted the other two rule proposals and both concern special teams. The first is one they have repeatedly suggested in recent years and is slowly beginning to find traction. Instead of an onside kick, Philadelphia wants to give kicking teams the opportunity to convert a 4th & 20 play from their own 25-yard line in order to keep possession.

This rule change has been suggested in many forms over the years and stems from a desire to change the current kickoff rules. A majority of NFL injuries occur during kickoffs, and the lack of success of onside kicks has also made it less popular. There have also been variations of this rule change in the past that have allowed teams to line up in this formation all the time and punt, eliminating the kickoff altogether.

The Eagles’ second proposed rule change is to eliminate the spot of “first touching” after the receiving team gains possession of the ball. Because a spot is established after a member of the kicking team touches the ball, the receiving team technically has a chance at a free run, after which they can accept the first spot regardless. The Eagles claim that this rule change would also improve player safety.