A new NFL season brings hope to fanbases across the league. All 32 teams have a fresh outlook entering this season compared to when they last took the field for games in January – or February, if you’re the Philadelphia Eagles or Kansas City Chiefs.
The new season brings some changes on the field beyond just the starting players, coaching staffs or front offices. New rules typically accompany the start of a new season and 2025 is no different.
Fans will notice some changes to the kickoff procedure, overtime, celebrations and instant replay. There’s also going to be some new technology in the footballs themselves during the game to help improve quality of play.
That’s a lot to get in order as the Eagles and Dallas Cowboys ring in the new season in primetime on Thursday, Sept. 4 from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
We’re here to help you get everything in order ahead of Week 1 of the regular season.
NFL rule changes for 2025
Kickoff changes
Last season saw massive changes to NFL kickoffs that are permanent for the 2025 season. Teams will still be kicking from their 35-yard line with all players (except the kicker) lined up at the receiving team’s 40-yard line. Receiving teams will have at least nine players in the ‘set up zone’ between their own 35- and 30-yard lines.
Rule changes this year will affect touchbacks. The receiving team will now get the ball at their 35-yard line if the kickoff goes into or beyond the end zone, a change from the 30-yard line last year. If the ball bounces into the end zone, the receiving team will get the ball at their own 20-yard line.
Overtime possession changes
In 2025, the postseason and regular season overtime rules will be the same. Each team will have a chance to possess the ball in overtime. After a three-minute intermission, overtime will last 10 minutes at most.
Each team will have an opportunity to possess the ball and the team with more points after the first possession wins. If the score is still tied after the first possession for both teams, the next score wins.
If the team kicking off to start overtime scores a safety on the initial possession, the team that kicked off is the winner.
Replay rule changes
Replay officials can now assist on more plays than in 2024. Last year, replay officials at the league offices in New York could help during replay reviews and some administrative issues. This year they’ll be able to step in for more situations and help provide objective rulings.
Here are the situations in which replay officials can help in 2025:
- Spot of the ball or foul;
- Complete or incomplete pass;
- Touching of the ball or a line;
- Penalty enforcement;
- Confirmation of down;
- Game clock administration;
- Possession of a loose ball;
- Player down by contact when not ruled down on the field;
- Late hits out of bounds.
Replay officials can also assist for ruling on the following penalties:
- Roughing the passer (when only based on a hit to the passer’s head or neck area)
- Intentional Grounding;
- Unnecessary roughness based on forcibly contacting a runner when he is out of bounds or hitting a defenseless player’s head or neck area;
- Twisting, pulling or turning the facemask or helmet;
- Horse-collar tackle;
- Tripping;
- Roughing or running into the kicker.
‘Nose-wipe’ celebration penalty
The ‘nose-wipe’ gesture popularized by Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is now added to the list of celebrations that will draw an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for 15 yards. The league claims that this gesture is related to gang activity.
Onside kick changes
NFL teams can now declare an onside kick at any point of the game so long as they are trailing. Last season, this was only allowed in the fourth quarter. These kicks will now be booted from the 34-yard line instead of the 35-yard line.
Hawk-Eye technology
Sony and the NFL partnered for this new technology to determine if a ball is crossed the line to gain for a first down. The new system uses six high-definition cameras positioned in each NFL stadium to determine where the ball is on the field. These cameras are controlled in the instant replay booth and will be the primary spotting system instead of a chain crew.
This system was trialed behind-the-scenes in 2024 and first deployed during the 2025 Hall of Fame Game.
The idea behind this is to speed up measurements for first downs and prevent potentially inaccurate measurements.
