{"id":119193,"date":"2025-09-04T11:43:56","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T11:43:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/119193\/"},"modified":"2025-09-04T11:43:56","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T11:43:56","slug":"nfls-rule-changes-for-2025-to-affect-kickoff-overtime-and-instant-replay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/119193\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL’s rule changes for 2025 to affect kickoff, overtime and instant replay"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new NFL<\/a> 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 \u2013 or February, if you’re the Philadelphia Eagles<\/a> or Kansas City Chiefs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

That’s a lot to get in order as the Eagles and Dallas Cowboys<\/a> ring in the new season in primetime on Thursday, Sept. 4 from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

1 \/ 14<\/p>\n

All the action from Week 3 of NFL preseason<\/p>\n

Carolina Panthers quarterbacks Andy Dalton (14) and Bryce Young (9) watch from the sidelines during the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers.<\/p>\n

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1 \/ 14<\/p>\n

All the action from Week 3 of NFL preseason<\/p>\n

Carolina Panthers quarterbacks Andy Dalton (14) and Bryce Young (9) watch from the sidelines during the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

2 \/ 14<\/p>\n

All the action from Week 3 of NFL preseason<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson (20) runs the ball as Carolina Panthers safety Lathan Ransom (22) and linebacker Bam Martin-Scott (57) attempt to tackle him.<\/p>\n

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3 \/ 14<\/p>\n

All the action from Week 3 of NFL preseason<\/p>\n

Carolina Panthers running back Raheem Blackshear (3) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Brandin Echols (26) and safety Miles Killebrew (28).<\/p>\n

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4 \/ 14<\/p>\n

All the action from Week 3 of NFL preseason<\/p>\n

New England Patriots quarterback Ben Wooldridge (17) throws a pass against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.<\/p>\n

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5 \/ 14<\/p>\n

All the action from Week 3 of NFL preseason<\/p>\n

New York Giants tight end Greg Dulcich (89) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Gunner Olszewski (0).<\/p>\n

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6 \/ 14<\/p>\n

All the action from Week 3 of NFL preseason<\/p>\n

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) throws a pass against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium.<\/p>\n

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7 \/ 14<\/p>\n

All the action from Week 3 of NFL preseason<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Lance McCutcheon (82) catches the ball for a touchdown as Carolina Panthers cornerback Shemar Bartholomew (27) follows close behind.<\/p>\n

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8 \/ 14<\/p>\n

All the action from Week 3 of NFL preseason<\/p>\n

Carolina Panthers quarterback Jack Plummer (16) runs the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers.<\/p>\n

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9 \/ 14<\/p>\n

All the action from Week 3 of NFL preseason<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) stretches back for the yard marker while tackled by Carolina Panthers defensive end Jared Harrison-Hunte (75).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

10 \/ 14<\/p>\n

All the action from Week 3 of NFL preseason<\/p>\n

Carolina Panthers running back Raheem Blackshear (3) runs through the middle against the Pittsburgh Steelers.<\/p>\n

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11 \/ 14<\/p>\n

All the action from Week 3 of NFL preseason<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) looks for an opening as he is chased by Carolina Panthers cornerback Corey Thornton (31) and linebacker Claudin Cherelus (53).<\/p>\n

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12 \/ 14<\/p>\n

All the action from Week 3 of NFL preseason<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph drops back to pass against the Carolina Panthers.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

13 \/ 14<\/p>\n

All the action from Week 3 of NFL preseason<\/p>\n

Former NFL quarterback and member of the Prime “Thursday Night Football” crew, Ryan Fitzpatrick, hangs out with fans before the preseason game between the New York Giants and New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium.<\/p>\n

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14 \/ 14<\/p>\n

All the action from Week 3 of NFL preseason<\/p>\n

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. throws during pregame warmups before the preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Bank of America Stadium.<\/p>\n

We’re here to help you get everything in order ahead of Week 1 of the regular season.<\/p>\n

NFL rule changes for 2025Kickoff changes<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Overtime possession changes<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

If the team kicking off to start overtime scores a safety on the initial possession, the team that kicked off is the winner.<\/p>\n

Replay rule changes<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Here are the situations in which replay officials can help in 2025:<\/p>\n

Spot of the ball or foul;<\/p>\n

Complete or incomplete pass;<\/p>\n

Touching of the ball or a line;<\/p>\n

Game clock administration;<\/p>\n

Possession of a loose ball;<\/p>\n

Player down by contact when not ruled down on the field;<\/p>\n

Replay officials can also assist for ruling on the following penalties:<\/p>\n

Roughing the passer (when only based on a hit to the passer’s head or neck area)<\/p>\n

Unnecessary roughness based on forcibly contacting a runner when he is out of bounds or hitting a defenseless player’s head or neck area;<\/p>\n

Twisting, pulling or turning the facemask or helmet;<\/p>\n

Roughing or running into the kicker.<\/p>\n

‘Nose-wipe’ celebration penalty<\/p>\n

The “nose-wipe” gesture popularized by Dallas Cowboys<\/a> wide receiver CeeDee Lamb<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A new NFL season brings hope to fanbases across the league. All 32 teams have a fresh outlook…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":119194,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[436],"tags":[49,48,1772,1721,1727,514,1747,82],"class_list":["post-119193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-ceedee-lamb","tag-dallas-cowboys","tag-kansas-city-chiefs","tag-nfl","tag-philadelphia-eagles","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=119193"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119193\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/119194"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=119193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=119193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=119193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}