View the NFL's new rule changes for the 2023 season (2024)

1. By Philadelphia; amendsRule5, Section 1, Article 2, to permit the use of zero (“0”) as a jersey numeral; to allow kickers and punters to use any jersey numeral between 0-49 and 90-99.

3. By Los Angeles Chargers; amendsRule4, Section 6, Article 3 and Section 7, Article 4, to make the adjustment of the play clock following an Instant Replay reversal consistent with other timingrules.

7. By Houston; amendsRule15, Section 1, Article 2, to expand the Replay Official’s jurisdiction to allow for review on failed fourth down attempts.

10. By Competition Committee; to change the definition of a launch to leaving one or both feet.

11. By Competition Committee; to make the penalty for tripping a personal foul.

12. By Competition Committee; to make the penalty for illegally handing the ball forward consistent with other illegal acts, such as illegal forward passes.

13. By Competition Committee; to make the penalty for illegal punts, drop kicks, or placekicks consistent with other illegal acts, such as illegal forward passes.

15. By Competition Committee; to prevent the offense from benefitting by an extension of the half as a result of their foul.

17. By Competition Committee; to clarify use of the helmet against an opponent by removing the “butt, ram, spear” language from Article 8 and incorporating those actions into Impermissible Use of the Helmet.

3. By Competition Committee; to change the claiming period to Monday for players who are waived on the Friday and Saturday of the last week of the regular season.

4. By Competition Committee; to insert Strength of Victory as the second tiebreaker for awarding contracts.

5. By Competition Committee; to adjust therulesfor postseason signings to account for standard elevationsrule; to freeze postseason rosters at 4:00 PM New York Time on the Wednesday following the last week of the regular season.

G-2. By Buffalo; to make the regular season and postseason roster transaction deadlines the same; changes the transaction deadline for Saturday night postseason games to 4:00 p.m., New York time on Saturday.

G-3. By Los Angeles Chargers; to provide greater clarity as to a player’s availability for a game.

G-4. By New Orleans, Atlanta, Baltimore, Buffalo, Carolina, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Green Bay, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota, New York Jets, Philadelphia, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Washington; to establish one preseason roster reduction date and related procedures.

For one year only, amendRule 10, Section 2, Article 4 (Putting Ball in Play After Fair Catch, pg. 42) (new language bold, deleted language struck through):

ARTICLE 4. PUTTING BALL IN PLAY AFTER FAIR CATCH.After a fair catch is made, or is awarded as the result of fair-catch interference, the receiving team has the option of putting the ball in play by either a:
(a) fair-catch kick (drop kick or placekick without a tee) from the spot of the catch (or the succeeding spot after enforcement of any applicable penaltiesorrule) (3-10 and 11-4-3), or
(b) snap from the spot of the catch (or the succeeding spot after enforcement of any applicable penalties), unless a player on the receiving team makes a fair catch of a free kick behind the receiving team’s 25-yard line, in which case the ball will be put in play at the receiving team’s 25-yard line.

Note:A receiver may make or be awarded a fair catch in his end zone. If there is fair-catch interference or illegal contact with the receiver after he has made a fair catch.

Submitted by Competition Committee

Effect: For one year only, puts the ball in play at the receiving team’s 25-yard line if there is a fair catch on a free kick (kickoff and safety kick) behind the receiving team’s 25-yard line.

Reason:Player Safety.

Amend Article XVII, Section 17.3 of the Constitution and Bylaws, to reflect the following (deleted language struck through):

Active/Inactive Lists

17.3 One hour and 30 minutes prior to kickoff, each club is required to establish its45-playerActive List for the game by notifying the Referee of the players on its Inactive List for that game.Each club may also designate one emergencythirdquarterbackfrom its 53-player Active/Inactive List (i.e.,elevated players are not eligible for designation) who will be eligible to be activated during the game, if the club’s first twoquarterbackson its game day Active List are not able to participate in the game due to injury or disqualification (activation cannot be a result of a head coach’s in-game decision to remove a player from the game due to performance or conduct). If either of the injuredquarterbacksis cleared by the medical staff to return to play, the emergencythirdquarterbackmust be removed from the game and is not permitted to continue to playquarterbackor any other position, but is eligible to return to the game to playquarterbackif another emergencythirdquarterbacksituation arises.

A club is not eligible to use these procedures if it carriesthreequarterbackson its game day Active List [47- or 48-players in 2023].

Each club may also identify one player on its Inactive List who may dress for the game, provided that (1) such player is aquarterback; (2) the club has twoquarterbackson its 45-player Active List; (3) if thethirdquarterbackenters the game during the firstthreeperiods, he must replace one of the club’s other twoquarterbacks, neither of whom may thereafter return to the game under any circ*mstances; and (4) if thethirdquarterbackenters the game during the fourth period or any overtime period, he must replace one of the club’s other twoquarterbacks, either of whom is permitted to return to the game.

[The remaining language of Section 17.3is unchanged.]

Submitted by Competition Committee

Effect: Permits each club to designate an emergencyquarterbackwho can be activated from its Inactive List if the twoquarterbackson the club’s Active List are injured or disqualified and unable to participate in the game.

Reason: Integrity of game.

Whereas,in 2023 Resolution JC-2 (as Amended) the membership approved a modified scheduling policy for short weeks in connection with theThursday NightFootballpackage; and

Whereas,given thatThursday NightFootballis the only primetime package without flexible scheduling, the membership also wishes to apply flexible scheduling and/or “TBD” scheduling forThursday NightFootballon a trial basis; Be it

Resolved,that flexible scheduling is hereby expanded to Thursdays such that clubs may be required to switch Sunday afternoon regular season games, in Weeks 13-17, to approximately 8:15 p.m. ET on Thursday (and vice-versa) upon at least twenty-eight (28) days’ notice from theLeagueOffice; and Be it

Further Resolved, that theLeague‘s late season “TBD” scheduling mechanism is hereby expanded to allow theLeagueOffice to designate games originally identified as “TBD” games to be played at approximately 8:15 p.m. ET on Thursday (in addition to Saturday, Sunday or Monday) in place of the originally scheduled Thursday night game (which shall be played on Sunday); and Be it

Further Resolved, that any club appearance onThursday NightFootballas a result of flexing or “TBD” scheduling will count toward the existing seven (7) appearance limit (as described in Section 4 ofExhibit Aof 2021 Resolution M-1); and Be it

Further Resolved,that no club will be required by virtue of flexible scheduling to switch from Sunday afternoon to Thursday night on more than one (1) occasion, or to play more than two (2) games on Thursday night in total, in any season; and Be it

Further Resolved,that theLeagueOffice will apply flexible scheduling toThursday NightFootballno more than two (2) times in any season; and Be it

Further Resolved,that this Resolution will be in effect for the 2023 season only, unless flexible scheduling is not applied forThursday NightFootballduring the 2023 regular season, in which case this Resolution shall remain in effect for the 2024 season.

Submitted by: Media and Media O&O Committees

Reason and Effect: To permit a one-season trial of modified scheduling policies for flexible scheduling in connection with the Thursday NightFootballpackage.