The NFL Owners Meetings in Orlando, Florida, are off and running. With the meetings of the biggest players in the league ongoing, the new rule changes for the 2024 season have been announced.
We take a look at each of them and the changes that will take place next season as a result.
NFL Rule Changes for 2024 Season
Banning of the Hip-Drop Tackle
The biggest move of the meetings was the outright banning of the hip-drop tackle. The NFL recognized the technique as a danger to the offensive players and has since voted to remove the tackling technique from the game completely.
In the playing rules summary, the amendment was written as “8. By Competition Committee; amends rule 12, Section 2, to eliminate a potentially dangerous tackling technique.”
The hip-drop tackle has become a hot-button issue around the league over the last couple of seasons and has seen the technique seriously injure players like Tony Pollard, who suffered a broken ankle in the 2022 NFL playoffs, or Mark Andrews, who missed a significant amount of time after suffering a similar injury against the Bengals in 2023.
However, despite the NFL working to remove the act out of caution for player safety, players across the league have pushed back on the amendment and have stated that it changes the way they approach the game as a result.
Adjustment to NFL Challenge Policies
To this point, if a team was to be awarded a third challenge during a game, they needed to win both of their previous two challenges to do so. However, the NFL has voted to adjust that rule to only require one successful challenge per game is needed to be granted a third.
The amendment was presented by the Detroit Lions and was approved for the competition committee for 2024 and beyond.
“1. By Detroit; amends Rule 15, Section 1, Article 1, to protect a club’s ability to challenge a third ruling following one successful challenge.”
Now NFL teams may be more inclined to throw the challenge flag, with less fear of not getting an opportunity to do so later in the game. Lowering the criteria for teams to earn a third chance will not only allow for more aggressiveness by teams but will ensure another opportunity for the call to be right on the field.
Enforcement of Foul on Offensive Team Before Change of Possession
While this ruse has less fanfare than the first two mentioned, it’s important nonetheless and was submitted and approved by the competition committee as well.
“5. By Competition Committee; amends Rule 14, Section 5, Article 2, to allow for an enforcement of a major foul by the offense prior to a change of possession in a situation where there fouls by both teams.”
Now an offense can be penalized rather than having it be offsetting penalties if the rule is a 15-yard penalty or considered major before a change of possession.
While it may be one side of the ball that committed the foul, the NFL is now letting the ball be marked off as needed before the ball changes hands — putting the following unit at a disadvantage open entering the field of play.
New Kickoff Rules Implemented
On Tuesday, NFL owners made a new sweeping change once opening kickoffs are made. And it’s one that mirrors what the XFL created in 2020.
Per NFL competition chairman Rick McKay, the league owners voted 29-3 for the proposal to pass on changing the kickoff format. A proposal presented to every owner must have at least 24 owners voting yes for it to pass and become implemented.
What will this proposal mean? This new look still has placekickers booting the football from the 35-yard line. However, kickoff and receiving teams will now line up at the receiving team’s 40-yard line.
Nine members of the returning team can line up in what’s called a “setup zone” between the 35 and 40-yard lines. Each return team still has two returners who will now line up between the goal line and 20-yard line.
Like the XFL, non-returners can only move once the ball lands in the hands of a return man or takes a bounce. There will be no fair catches made during kickoffs, but touchbacks can now be marked at the 30.
Why the switch out of the original kickoff format? NFL owners are aiming to see a reduction in concussions during kickoffs. It’s the latest rule change for kickoffs after the league outlawed wedge and double-team blocks in 2023.
Trade Deadline Pushed Back
The final major rule change announcement involves when the NFL trade deadline will be. The league’s trade deadline will officially be pushed back one week — now following Week 9 of the 2024 season on Nov. 5.
According to 850 ESPN Cleveland radio analyst Tony Grossi back on Feb. 27, Browns general manager Andrew Berry was the first to submit the proposal. Berry’s idea was to give more teams flexibility in deciding on a midseason trade, especially for teams making a playoff push.
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Now, the new trade proposal pushes the date to the Tuesday after Week 9. But one change that won’t take place is the deadline time. Every team still has until 4 p.m. ET to complete their trades.
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