The NFL Just Approved 4 New Rule Changes for 2026

The NFL's owners just approved four new rule changes for the 2026 season.

The NFL's owners, general managers and coaches are meeting in Phoenix, Arizona this week. A lot of different topics are up for discussion - including rule changes. The league's owners have officially approved four rule changes for 2026, brought forth by the league's Competition Committee.

The four new rule changes, according to longtime NFL insider Tom Pelissero:

1. To permit the kicking team to declare an onside kick at any time during the game.
2. To eliminate the kicking team’s incentive to intentionally kick the ball out of bounds when kicking off from the 50-yard line.
3. To modify the kickoff alignment requirements for the receiving team players in the setup zone.
4. For one year only, to allow the NFL Officiating Department to correct clear and obvious misses made by on-field officials that impact the game, in the event that there is a work stoppage involving the game officials represented by the NFL Referees Association.

The onside kick rule change is perhaps the biggest one. Previously, following the change to the NFL's kickoff format, teams had to officially declare when they were running an onside kick, and it could only happen when trailing or in the fourth quarter

That is no longer the case.

NFL teams will now be able to declare an onside kick at any point in the game.

NFL's replacement refs will spark a rule change, too

With replacement refs coming to the NFL in 2026, the NFL Officiating Department will be allowed to change horrible calls made on the field by the league's replacement refs, in the event of a work stoppage.

Negotiations between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association have not been going well. In fact, the NFLRA has accused the league of spreading misinformation, according to NFLRA executive director Scott Green.

"The bottom line is our officials work for the wealthiest sports league in America, with profits that far exceed any of the others," Green said. "That's normally a point of pride for the NFL. However, our officials are substantially under-compensated when compared to baseball and basketball umpires and referees. Our officials also aren't provided the health care benefits that those at 345 Park Avenue have."

The NFL's collective bargaining agreement with the NFLRA expires May 31, as replacement refs could be hired as soon as June 1.