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NFL rule changes 2025: Eagles, Lions, Packers make proposals including 'Tush Push' ban
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- NFL rule changes 2025: Eagles, Lions, Packers make proposals including 'Tush Push' ban
The Philadelphia Eagles have used the "Tush Push" to their advantage since installing Jalen Hurts as their starting quarterback.
It isn't clear whether they will be allowed to continue doing so in 2025 and beyond.
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The Green Bay Packers officially proposed a change to the NFL rules that would prohibit the Eagles ' "Tush Push." The rule will be among five that the NFL's 32 clubs consider amending ahead of the league's 2025 season.
Here's what to know about the NFL's rule change proposals for 2025:
NFL rule change proposals 2025
There are three rule change proposals for the 2025 NFL season. They are as follows, according to a memo distributed by the NFL :
'Tush Push' ban proposal
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Proposed by: Green Bay Packers
The Packers have proposed a rule that would "prohibit an offensive player from pushing a teammate who was lined up directly behind the snapper and receives the snap, immediately at the snap." If adopted, this rule would make it illegal for NFL teams to run the "Tush Push" play popularized by the Eagles.
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The Packers listed "player safety" and "pace of play" as reasons for requesting this rule change.
OPINION: Don't ban the Philadelphia Eagles' 'Tush Push.' Figure out how to stop it.
Regular-season overtime rules changes
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Proposed by: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have proposed a resolution that would "align the postseason and regular season overtime rules." Philadelphia's proposition would result in "granting both teams an opportunity to possess the ball regardless of the outcome of the first possession, subject to a 15-minute overtime period in the regular season." That aligns with the format presently used by the NFL during the postseason.
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The Eagles highlighted "competitive equity" as the reason for their proposal.
Defensive holding and illegal contact penalty changes
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Proposed by: Detroit Lions
The Lions are looking to "eliminate an automatic first down as a penalty imposed for defensive holding and illegal contact."
Detroit's reasoning for the proposal? The Lions claim the "current penalty enforcement is too punitive for the defense" and believe changing it would provide more "competitive equity" for the league.
NFL bylaw change proposals 2025
There were also two bylaw change proposals for the NFL in 2025. These changes would not impact the game on-the-field but would result in changes to the league's postseason format and roster construction.
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Here's what to know about the proposed bylaw changes:
Changes to playoff seeding
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Proposed by: Detroit Lions
The Lions are seeking to "amend the current playoff seeding format" in a way that would allow wild-card teams to be seeded higher than division champions.
Under Detroit's proposal, each conference's four division winners would still make the postseason. However, rather than those four teams getting the top-four seeds, the seedings would be determined simply by which of the seven playoff teams had the best record.
Ironically, this change would have played to the advantage of the Lions' divisional rival, the Minnesota Vikings , last season. The Vikings had a 14-3 record but were given the NFC's No. 5 seed after the Lions won the NFC North with a 15-2 record. Under the proposed seeding format, Minnesota would have been the NFC's No. 3 seed.
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The Lions claim the proposal "provides excitement and competition in late season games" and "rewards the best-performing teams from the regular season."
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Roster management changes
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Proposed by: Detroit Lions
The Lions proposed another rule change that would result in additional "roster flexibility." Detroit suggests allowing teams not to count players placed on injured reserve on or before the day of roster reduction against the league's existing 90-player limit for roster size.
Detroit believes the change "allows clubs to better manage their 90-man rosters late in the season in the event of an unusually high number of players being placed on the Reserve/Injured list."
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The Lions had a great deal of injuries during the 2024 NFL season, which may have inspired them to propose this switch.
How do rule changes work in the NFL?
Potential rule changes are reviewed by the NFL competition committee , which includes various team owners, front-office officials and even active head coaches.
The NFL states the committee is instructed to consider the following questions about new rule and rule change proposals:
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Does the change improve the game?
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How will it be officiated?
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How will it be coached?
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Can the player apply the rule on the field?
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Does the change enhance player protection?
Once the NFL competition committee outlines how the rule change will be implemented, all 32 team owners vote on whether or not to adopt the rule at an annual league meeting . The new rule must have a 75% approval rating (24 of 32 teams) to pass.
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Last year's rule changes included the implementation of the NFL's new kickoff format and a ban on hip-drop tackles .
When will NFL vote on rule change proposals?
The NFL will vote on its proposed changes to the rules at the league's annual meeting. That will take place from March 30 to April 2 in 2025.
USA TODAY's Jack McKessy also contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL rule change proposals 2025: Packers request 'Tush Push' ban
