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NFL Reveals 5 Major Rule Change Proposals For The 2026 Season

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This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

NFL referee's flag.
NFL referee’s flag. Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Image

The 2026 NFL season is shaping up to be an entertaining one. Besides all the roster and coaching changes, the league could see multiple changes in the rules.

While no other team proposed to ban the Philadelphia Eagles’ “tush push,” other changes might be coming to the competition. The NFL Football Operations’ X account shared a series of rules proposals for 2026. Some aren’t radical, such as permitting the kicking team to declare an onside kick at any time during the game. A more serious one proposed the expansion of league officials’ assistance in the case of the NFLRA work stoppage.

“For one year only, allow the NFL Officiating Department to correct clear and obvious misses by on-field officials that impact the game, in the event of a work stoppage involving the game officials represented by the NFL Referees Association,” the No. 5 rule proposal read.

This comes after the league witnessed a terrible ending during a 2012 Week 3 game between the Packers and Seahawks. The NFL and the NFLRA have yet to reach a deal for a new collective bargaining agreement, which would force the league to use replacement officials to start the season.

Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns Proposed 2 NFL Rule Changes For 2026

Dec 28, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) catches the ball for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

Before the NFL Competition Committee proposed the five rule changes, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns proposed two to change the way teams make deals. First, the Steelers proposed a rule change about free agency.

“To make permanent the change implemented during the 2025 season that permits clubs to have one video or phone call with no more than five prospective Unrestricted Free Agents during the Two-Day Negotiation Period, and to permit clubs to make travel arrangements with such players upon agreeing to terms.”

Cleveland made a proposal regarding draft picks involved in trades.

“To allow draft selections to be traded up to five (5) seasons in the future.”

These two rules could change the league, but the teams will vote next week at the Annual League Meeting in Phoenix.

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