NFL Owners Approve 2 Key Rule Changes

NFL owners approved to key rules changes during the league meetings on Tuesday (March 31), the Associated Press reports.

The NFL's competition committee will allow the New York replay center to correct “clear and obvious mistakes made by on-field officials that impact the game” solely for the 2026 season in the event of work stoppage involving the NFL Referees Association with the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire on May 31. The league is reportedly planning to hire and train replacement referees in the event that a deal isn't reached before the beginning of the season, two sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to the Associated Press on Tuesday on the condition of anonymity as the negotiations are private.

The NFL had previously used replacement officials in 2012, which resulted in several botched calls during primetime games during the first three weeks of the season following an offseason lockout. The league will also allow the replay center to consult with on-field officials when considering ejections on flagrant football and non-football acts that were missed on the field.

The latter rule change came months after Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf wasn't ejected from a regular season road game against the Detroit Lions after an altercation with a heckling fan as officials didn't see him swipe at the fan and, therefore, didn't throw a flag, so the replay center was unable to intervene. Metcalf was, however, suspended two games, but able to stay with the team during that span.

The league also approved three changes to kickoffs including one permitting the kicking team to declare an onside kick at any time during the game, regardless of the score, having previously only been allowed to do so while trailing.