{"id":841361,"date":"2026-03-29T18:18:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-29T18:18:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/841361\/"},"modified":"2026-03-29T18:18:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T18:18:18","slug":"potential-kickoff-changes-a-topic-at-nfls-annual-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/841361\/","title":{"rendered":"Potential kickoff changes a topic at NFL’s annual meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"

Replacement officials, potential rule changes, artificial intelligence, health and safety issues, international growth and\u00a0flag football\u00a0will be among many topics discussed when NFL owners, executives and coaches gather for their annual meeting this week in Arizona.<\/p>\n

One topic that dominated the conversation this time last year \u2014 the tush push \u2014 isn\u2019t on the agenda because there is no proposal to eliminate the play even though it was nearly banned in a close vote in 2025.<\/p>\n

NFC coaches will speak to reporters on Monday, AFC coaches will do so on Tuesday and Commissioner Roger Goodell closes it out.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look at the several topics:<\/p>\n

Replacement officials<\/p>\n

The biggest proposal released by the NFL competition committee is a contingency if the league chooses to use replacement officials in case of a work stoppage as it did to start the 2012 season. The current collective bargaining agreement with the NFL and the NFL Referees Association expires on May 31.<\/p>\n

The proposal would allow the replay center in New York to advise the on-field officials on any missed roughing the passer or intentional grounding penalty, as well as any act that would have led to an ejection had a penalty been called.<\/p>\n

The NFL\u2019s used of replacement officials for the first three weeks of the 2012 season resulted in several mistakes and wrong calls, including the disputed TD catch known as the \u201cFail Mary.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe negotiations with the officials have not gone as quickly as we would have wanted,\u201d NFL executive Jeff Miller said. \u201cWe\u2019ve made a number of proposals. We\u2019re looking to improve the accountability and performance of the officials, and we just haven\u2019t gotten to where we need to go. So, we\u2019re going to play football this fall, and we\u2019re going to need officials to do it. So, this is part of the preparation, and we felt compelled to make these sorts of decisions in anticipation of playing football in a different environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dynamic kickoff changes<\/p>\n

There are several minor tweaks being proposed for the dynamic kickoff rule that is entering its third season.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 2024, we had 920 returns, and we had 25,000 return yards. In 2025, we had 2,076 returns, and we had 53,869 yards,\u201d said Rich McKay, Atlanta Falcons CEO and Competition Committee Chair. \u201cSo that\u2019s just a crazy change in the game, one that we\u2019ve worked on for a long time. It\u2019s a credit to the special teams coaches who\u2019ve gotten together and really helped influence where we are on that play. It\u2019s a credit to our head coaches for being able to be flexible enough to adopt and adapt, I should say, to the play. So, it\u2019s a really good story.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we won\u2019t just leave it alone. This year, we\u2019re going to propose that we allow the 5-4-2 alignment. \u2026 That really was the original alignment the special teams coaches wanted, but we were just taking our time and kind of being a little conservative, if you will, in how we allowed the alignment change. So, that\u2019s kind of our process and how we got to where we are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Technology and AI<\/p>\n

The league has embraced advances in technology and artificial intelligence, including putting chips in footballs and using virtual measurements to determine first downs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ability to use any modern technologies in media to advance the game on the field or with our fans, especially internationally, is coming at a really important time for the league\u2019s growth,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n

International growth<\/p>\n

The NFL is playing\u00a0nine international games<\/a>\u00a0this season, including the first regular-season games in France and Australia. The goal is to eventually play 16 games abroad.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an incredibly important area of our business and growth and takes up a good amount of time during these meetings,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n

Concussions<\/p>\n

There were 35 concussions on kickoffs in 2025 compared to eight in 2024 mainly because moving the touchback to the 35-yard line resulted in 1,157 more returns. The kick return rate jumped to 74% from 33% last season, and it was the highest return rate in 15 years. Still, the overall injury rate is lower than previous kickoffs, when the coverage team had a running start compared to the standing start of the new rule.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal was to have a fewer, lower injury rate on that play, and to make it seem more like a play from scrimmage, which has been accomplished by and large,\u201d Miller said. \u201cBut we always knew that we were going to revisit this play as soon as we had more data on it, and with an almost 75% return rate this year, we have a whole lot of plays that we\u2019ve been working through and a lot of people and we\u2019ve been working really diligently on this because we think the results are heading into a really good direction. But we do need to address the injuries that we saw to the returner and to the tackler this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seattle Seahawks offseason coverage<\/p>\n

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\u2022\u00a0Seattle Seahawks to kick off 2026 NFL season on a Wednesday<\/a><\/p>\n

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