NFL Considering Changing Onside Kick And Overtime Rules

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL is considering a rule change that would allow teams to maintain possession of the ball after a score by substituting one offensive play for an onside kickoff attempt.

The proposal submitted by the Philadelphia Eagles is among 11 that will be voted on at the spring league meetings. This one would allow teams to keep the ball by converting a fourth-and-15 from their 25-yard line.

Another proposal from the Baltimore Ravens changes the overtime format and eliminates overtime in the preseason. It allows the winner of the overtime coin toss to choose where to spot the ball for the first play or start on offense or defense from the designated spot.

According to the proposal, “regardless of which privilege is chosen by the winner of the toss, privilege (a) is to be exercised before privilege (b), so that the selection of whether to play offense or defense is made after the starting field position is chosen.”

The @BuffaloBills recover the onside kick! #BillsMafia #NFLPlayoffs

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— NFL (@NFL) January 25, 2021

Other potential changes include adding a loss of down for a second forward pass from behind the line and for a pass thrown after the ball returns behind the line and to ensure the enforcement of all accepted penalties committed by either team during successive try attempts.

New rule proposal: sub an offensive play of 4th-&-15 from own 25 yard line for an onside kick

Success pct

4th-&-15 Onside Kick
2020 0.0 4.5
2019 28.6 12.9
2018 42.9 7.7
2017 0.0 21.4
2016 33.3 11.1

— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) April 1, 2021

A proposal by the Kansas City Chiefs would allow single-digit numbers to be worn by defensive backs, linebackers, running backs, fullbacks, tight ends, H-backs and wide receivers. Currently, quarterbacks, kickers and punters are the only players allowed to wear single digits.