NFL rule changes 2026: League adjusts restrictions on kickoffs, correcting official calls, more

TV ratings tell you the NFL product is in a great place right now, but the league regularly takes the opportunity to tweak some of its finer details at the annual meetings. 

The "tush push" was the talk of the town at the NFL's meetings in 2025, but that discussion quieted down ahead of 2026 after the Eagles struggled to run it as effectively.

The prospect of an 18-game schedule has also become an increasingly large part of conversations about the NFL's future, but that kind of schedule expansion wasn't on the table this year. 

So, what is changing for 2026? Here's what you need to know about the rule changes that were approved for next season.

MORE: Explaining the NFL's kickoff rules

What are the 2026 NFL rule changes?

Below are the NFL rule changes that were approved for the 2026 season and beyond. For a rule to be passed, 75 percent of the owners (at least 24 teams) must vote in favor.

Onside kicks allowed any time during game

The NFL again amended its onside kick rules, making them less restrictive. The league changed the rules in 2024 to mandate that teams can only declare an onside kick when trailing in the fourth quarter before relaxing them to allow a trailing team to declare an onside kick any time. Now, teams can declare an onside kick at any point regardless of whether or not they are trailing.

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Kickoff rules tweaked

Two proposals regarding the kickoff were passed. One eliminates the "kicking team's incentive to intentionally kick the ball out of bounds when kicking off from the 50-yard line," according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, while another changes the alignment requirements for the receiving team during a kickoff.

NFL able to correct 'clear and obvious' missed calls by replacement refs

In an interesting twist, a rule was approved granting the NFL Officiating Department in New York the ability to correct "clear and obvious" misses by officials on the field, but only in the event that a work stoppage keeps the league's full-time officials off the field. That means an incident like the 2012 "Fail Mary" involving replacement refs cannot happen again if the NFL has to use replacement officials, because the league could step in and quickly correct a call.

If and when a work stoppage ends, the NFL would no longer have the ability to correct officials' decisions. 

NFL able to work with officials to penalize, eject players for 'flagrant' acts

In what can be described as a direct response to D.K. Metcalf punching a Lions fan in Detroit last season, NFL owners passed a rule allowing league officials to consult with referees about potential penalties or ejections for "flagrant" football acts and non-football acts, such as Metcalf's punch. Metcalf wasn't ejected from the game because an official didn't see the punch along the Steelers' sideline, but the new rules would allow the NFL to step in and eject a player in a similar scenario.

Officials will also be able to penalize players for a flagrant act after consulting with the league office.

MORE: How NFL virtual measurement system impacts first downs, controversial calls

Roster, business changes

While the only playing rules changed are listed above, some rules related to rosters and front office business were also changed.

The NFL now has the ability to adjust roster reduction dates during training camp to account for international games in Week 1, likely added because of the Australia game between the 49ers and Rams that will require earlier travel. The Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend are now designated as business days "to provide clubs with personnel notices during the first weekend after the roster reduction."

In other rule changes, teams can now open a 21-day practice window after the second game of the season for players on the PUP list; players on the PUP list must miss the first four games of the season.

The league also passed the Steelers' proposal to make permanent the change from this past free agency period in which teams can hold video calls with up to five players during the legal tampering period. Previously, teams could only contact players' agents during the tampering period.

MORE: What is a catch in the NFL?

Rule changes that didn't pass

While the "tush push" ban failed last year, there aren't any known hot-button issues that reached a vote this year and didn't pass.

The Browns originally proposed allowing teams to trade draft picks up to five years in the future, rather than the current three, but they pulled the proposal before a vote after it struggled to gain momentum.