NFL rule changes: Onside kicks, replacement ref protection, and injury changes
Plus, what happened to the proposal that the Browns had initially put forth?
CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 21: Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns is helped up by umpire Scott Walker during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Huntington Bank Field on December 21, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images The rule changes for the 2026 NFL season are in. Below, we summarize the rule change, bylaw, and resolutions that were passed for the 2026 season.
These were voted on and approved during the Annual League Meeting, which takes place from March 29-March 31 in Phoenix, Arizona. In order for a proposal to be adopted, it needed to receive approval by at least 75% (24) of team owners. One of the changes that was removed from the voting process was the one that Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry put forth about trading future draft picks.
You can see more detail here about why it was pulled before it came to a vote. In a nutshell, though, it sounds like it wouldn’t have had enough support to pass, so in that case, it’s better to generate some discussion, get a feeler for what people might be more open to voting for, and then attempt a modified proposal in a future year. Rule Changes Approved Rule 1 – Onside Kicks at Any Time: We’ve seen an evolution of the ‘new’ onside kick rules.
In 2024, teams could only do an onside kick while trailing in the fourth quarter. Last year, they could do the kick at any time, as long as they were trailing. Per the new rule, either team can do an onside kick (although you still must declare it).