NFL's new rules kick off for 2025 season. What you need to know

The NFL returns on Thursday night, and the league is instituting new rules for games this season, including kickoffs, changes to the overtime rule for the regular season, expanded replay assistance, and the utilization of virtual measurements replacing the chains to determine first downs. 

 In April, owners voted to make last year’s dynamic kickoff permanent while moving touchbacks on kicks that land in the end zone from the 30 to the 35-yard line, a move likely to result in more kicks in the field of play and more returns. 

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And the tush play made famous by the Philadelphia Eagles is not changing and will remain a staple in games. 

Here’s a breakdown of some of the other rules fans can expect to see this season. 

NFL 2025 rule changes

Kickoffs

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Last year, the NFL implemented an experimental kickoff that resulted in the rate of kickoff returns increasing nearly 40% in 2024, while lowering the rate of player injuries. 

According to the Associated Press, the rule made kickoffs more like scrimmage plays by putting the coverage players near each other to prevent high-speed collisions that played a role in a litany of injuries. 

NFL officials also approved a minor tweak to how blockers on the return team are permitted to line up in the setup zone that might lead to longer returns. 

Onside kicks

This season, teams still must announce their plan to attempt an onside kick because of the formation. However, a new change allows teams trailing in a game to try one onside kick before the beginning of the fourth quarter. 

The AP noted that coverage players are allowed to line up one yard closer to bolster their chances of recovering an onside kick. 

NFL overtime rules

The NFL approved a proposal to make the regular season overtime like the playoffs, with both teams getting a chance at a possession, even if an opposing team gets the ball first and scores a touchdown. 

In 1974, the NFL added regular season overtime, consisting of a 15-minute sudden death period that ended on a score by either team. 

And in 2010, the overtime rule was modified to a sudden death format that required an opening possession touchdown to end a game instead of a field goal.

But overtime was trimmed for the regular season to only 10 minutes in 2017. And in 2022, a rule change for the playoffs only gave both teams the chance to score even with a touchdown on the opening possession. And this is now the case in the regular season, after the improved field position on kickoffs made winning in overtime on an opening possession touchdown easier. 

Replay assist 

The NFL expanded its replay assist system to reverse questionable calls if there is obvious vidence that a penalty happened. These calls include facemask penalties, forcible contact to the head and neck area of a player, horse-collar tackles, and tripping.

According to the AP, replay can also reverse a roughing-the-kicker or running-into-the-kicker foul if video shows the defender making contact with the football.

Other rule changes

A new virtual measuring system will be used during games to determine first downs, replacing referees using chains. This change won’t eliminate referees who spot the ball and use chains to mark the line to gain a first down. 

The Associated Press noted that the Hawk-Eye system has six 8K cameras for optical tracking of the position of the football with the result of the measurement displayed on scoreboards. NFL officials project that the measurements will take roughly 30-to 40 seconds less than the average time it takes using the chains. 

Meanwhile, the NFL is clamping down on violent and sexually suggestive gestures in games this season. And in April, the NFL extended prohibited acts to include outlawing the "nose wipe" gesture that league executive Troy Vincent told the Associated Press is affiliated with gangs.