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NFL owners approve overtime rule change and expand video replay assist

Both teams are now guaranteed an offensive possession in OT thanks to the Eagles’ proposal.

Both teams getting an overtime possession could mean more overtime field goal attempts for Jake Elliott.
Both teams getting an overtime possession could mean more overtime field goal attempts for Jake Elliott.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    by EJ Smith
    Updated 
    Published 

PALM BEACH, Fla. — The NFL passed a rule change Tuesday to allow each team possession in overtime, slightly amending a proposal from the Eagles going into this week’s annual league meetings.

The team’s original proposal was to bring the recently implemented overtime rules used in the playoffs to the regular season. The league voted in the new postseason format in 2022 that included 15-minute periods in which both teams would have one possession to determine a winner. If the game remained tied after the initial two possessions, the next score would decide the game.

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On Tuesday, the league passed the rule change to mimic the postseason format but with a 10-minute overtime period instead.

The league also passed a proposal from the NFL competition committee to expand the replay video assistant’s “ability to advise the on-field officials on specific, objective aspects of a play and/or to address game administration issues when clear and obvious video evidence is present.”

The NFL had already broadened the scope of the replay assistant before last season, allowing video reviews to influence intentional grounding, roughing the passer, and late hits out-of-bounds calls. The new rule will reportedly include hits on a defenseless player, horse-collar tackles, tripping, and face mask penalties, among others.

In addition to the new rules implemented, the league officially made last year’s switch to a new kickoff format permanent after using last season as a trial period.

The new kickoff, which required players to line up closer together and wait for the returner to field the kick before moving off their respective lines, will have two tweaks next year with the aim of further increasing the number of returns. The league decided to move the dead ball spot after a touchback to the 35-yard line, 5 yards farther than it was last year. Receiving teams also can to align players differently than they did last year.