The NFL is altering its overtime format … again. The league approved two rule changes Tuesday at is annual meeting. Overtime is being overhauled in the regular season and replay assist will expand to include some new plays, per multiple reports.
While the league is changing its overtime rules, they should look familiar. In 2025, both teams will receive a possession in overtime during regular season games. It’s the same overtime format the NFL used in the postseason in 2024.
The initial rule proposal pushed for regular-season overtime to be 15 minutes, but was amended down to 10 minutes.
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The league’s overtime format became a popular topic of discussion following the Kansas City Chiefs’ 42-36 win over the Buffalo Bills in 2022. After tying the game at the end of regulation, the Chiefs won the coin toss in overtime and scored on their first possession. The Bills were eliminated from the playoffs without touching the ball in overtime.
Months later, the NFL altered its overtime policy for the postseason. Under that policy — which will now apply to the regular season following Tuesday’s vote — both teams were guaranteed an overtime possession during the postseason. If the score is still tied after both teams have a possession in overtime, the next team to score wins the game.
In the Bills-Chiefs example above, the new policy would have allowed the Bills to get another possession after the Chiefs’ overtime touchdown. If the Bills scored a touchdown on their possession to make the score 42-42, the next team to score points would win the game.
That will now be the case during regular-season games, though with one small, but significant, different. If both teams are still tied after 10 minutes of play, the game will result in a tie. Playoff games can’t end in a tie, for obvious reasons.
NFL expands use of replay assist
The second rule change for the 2025 season involves which penalties can be subject to replay review. Under the new policy, “hits on a defenseless player, grabbing the facemask, performing a horse-collar tackle, tripping, and running into or roughing the kicker” can be reviewed, according to Pro Football Talk.
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That proposal comes with a catch, however. Those penalties can only be reviewed if officials throw a flag on the play. If a coach believes the flag was not warranted, they can challenge and potentially have the penalty overturned. In cases where no flag is thrown by an official on a play, coaches will not be eligible to challenge. If an official misses a penalty, a coach can’t use replay to change the situation.
Touchbacks will move to the 35-yard line
The NFL is really trying to make the kick return an exciting event again. A modified kickoff rule will move touchbacks to the 35-yard line in 2025. In 2024, a touchback on a kickoff resulted in the ball being placed at the 30-yard line.
Teams returned kickoffs at a roughly 33 percent rate in 2024. Under the new policy, the league expects that number to jump to between 60-70 percent, per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.
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While there were proposals aimed at changed the onside-kick policy, those were not changed Tuesday. The league may consider changes to its onside-kick rule at a later date, however.
Lions defensive penalty proposal fails
A proposal to eliminate automatic first downs on defensive holding and illegal contact penalties failed Tuesday, per reports.
The Detroit Lions introduced the proposal, which sought to eliminate automatic first downs on certain defensive penalties. Under the current rules — which will remain in 2025 — illegal contact and defensive holding will result in a loss of five yards and an automatic first down.
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A number of possible rule changes were on the table at the NFL annual meetings. The most controversial of which was the possible elimination of the tush push, which was put forward by the Green Bay Packers. A number of coaches and executives weighed in on the matter at the meetings. The NFL is expected to vote on the tush-push proposal Tuesday, though there are rumblings a vote could be tabled until a later date.
This story will be updated.
