The NFL Competition Committee will be looking at a number of suggested rule changes for this season. Given the dreary time of year as far as NFL action goes, let’s dig in, and I’ll share my thoughts on each of the 5 suggestions.
NFL Proposed Rule Changes 2026
1. Permit the kicking team to declare an onside kick at any time during the game
I’m honestly a fan of this rule change. I feel like the time limit, as it currently stands, subtracts from the strategies a team can use to try to make a comeback. The onside kick is a very low percentage play already; let teams try it whenever they want, as it is a very high-risk
play at any time other than when you have nothing to lose.
2. Eliminate the kicking team’s incentive to intentionally kick the ball out of bounds when kicking off from the 50-yard line.
I’m in favor of this as well. Our team used this loophole this year, and I get the upside from the kicking team’s perspective. I’m just not a fan of loophole plays. If teams are supposed to kick off, then keep the rules set up in a way where there are no edge scenarios where you, as the kicking team, can just nullify the receiving team’s ability to try and make a play.
3. Modify the kickoff alignment requirements for the receiving team players in the setup zone
I read this as the teams wanting to have one more player back off the Restraining Line to give more depth options to their blocking setup. I don’t know how much this will help the return game, but given how complex the new setup is, I’m in favor of little tweaks from year to year as the special teams units see as helpful until they smooth out the new process.
4. Allow League Personnel to consult with on-field officials when considering disqualifications for both flagrant football acts and non-football acts without being called on the field.
I’m a fan of this change as well. There are too many times in games where players get away with absolute nonsense, and the officials miss it. I think it protects the integrity of the game and the players as well to allow the NFL to call in stuff the officials miss that crosses the line.
5. Allow the NFL Officiating Department to correct clear and obvious misses made by on-field officials that impact the game, in the event there is a work stoppage involving the game officials represented by the NFL Referees Association
This is one I’m going to take a hard pass on. If you want to play hardball with the negotiations with the NFL Referees Association, deal with the consequences. Instead of putting big rule sets in that allow your people upstairs to correct the poor job that replacement refs would do, maybe consider making the NFL referee job a full-time paid position with clear training, performance reviews, and year-round work to perfect the craft, instead of keeping it as a part-time gig.
What do you out there in Broncos Country think? Hit us up in the comments and let us know what you think of the rule changes being considered for this season.
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