Fans may have to consult the rule book occasionally in the upcoming 2024 National Football League season as the league decided to revise some of its rules.
With the approval of the majority of owners, Commissioner Roger Goodell is gradually introducing changes to NFL rules, which he said will make the game more exciting while also ensuring the safety of players.
Some of the changes were revealed during the 2024 NFL Annual Meetings, where Goodell addressed the most pressing issues in the league, including Tom Brady and Las Vegas Raiders ownership, Brazil games, the Christmas schedule, and more.
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Major NFL Rule Changes in 2024 and the initial reaction by some coaches:
1. Kickoff rule
The league decided to improve kickoff rules to revive the once-exciting play.
Last season, the NFL recorded the lowest kickoff return rate, but with the new rule, called the hybrid kickoff model based on the XFL, more kicks will be encouraged while the injury rate will be reduced.
"I think it will be a big improvement. I think it will bring the play back into an important play, a relevant play, an exciting play. And the injury rate ultimately will drop," Goodell said about the hybrid kickoff rule.
2. Banning of hip-drop tackle
Another significant NFL rule change is the harsh treatment of hip-drop tackles. This type of play usually leads to high-ankle sprains, ligament injuries, and fractures among players.
The new rule will penalize players who commit this while their team will be punished with a 15-yard penalty.
A penalty will be handed if the referee sees that the defender "unweight himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner's leg(s) at or below the knee."
3. Third replay challenge
This change is called a step towards better officiating.
Coaches can make a third challenge now if their first two are successful.
4. Fouls that lead to change of possession
The Competition Committee proposed this new rule, which aims to " ensure consistency with an effort to enforce all major fouls."
Major fouls committed by the offense - like unnecessary roughness - should merit a penalty before the change of possession.
This rule change is well-received by many NFL personnel.
"The competition committee has long opposed challenges to penalty calls because it essentially substitutes one person's judgment for another's," NFL Network's Tom Pelissero said on X.
"This is much more narrow, but another step toward empowering the replay assistant to fix clear and obvious mistakes."
5. Replay on quarterback plays
Teams can now turn to replays to see if their quarterbacks were down or out of bounds before passing the ball.
After the replay, the officials can now overturn whatever calls they previously made based on what the video indicates.
The completed pass will stand if the referees made the wrong assessment, although no yardage will be gained. If the quarterback made an incomplete pass, it will still be called a down, but the offense will not lose any yardage that it previously had before the call review.
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