NFL rule changes 2025: Eagles, Lions, Packers make proposals including 'Tush Push' ban

The Philadelphia Eagles have used the "Tush Push" to their advantage since installing Jalen Hurts as their starting quarterback.

It isn't clear whether they will be allowed to continue doing so in 2025 and beyond.

The Green Bay Packers officially proposed a change to the NFL rules that would prohibit the Eagles' "Tush Push." The rule will be among five that the NFL's 32 clubs consider amending ahead of the league's 2025 season.

Here's what to know about the NFL's rule change proposals for 2025:

NFL rule change proposals 2025

There are three rule change proposals for the 2025 NFL season. They are as follows, according to a memo distributed by the NFL:

'Tush Push' ban proposal

Proposed by: Green Bay Packers

The Packers have proposed a rule that would "prohibit an offensive player from pushing a teammate who was lined up directly behind the snapper and receives the snap, immediately at the snap." If adopted, this rule would make it illegal for NFL teams to run the "Tush Push" play popularized by the Eagles.

The Packers listed "player safety" and "pace of play" as reasons for requesting this rule change.

Regular-season overtime rules changes

Proposed by: Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles have proposed a resolution that would "align the postseason and regular season overtime rules." Philadelphia's proposition would result in "granting both teams an opportunity to possess the ball regardless of the outcome of the first possession, subject to a 15-minute overtime period in the regular season." That aligns with the format presently used by the NFL during the postseason.

The Eagles highlighted "competitive equity" as the reason for their proposal.

Defensive holding and illegal contact penalty changes

Proposed by: Detroit Lions

The Lions are looking to "eliminate an automatic first down as a penalty imposed for defensive holding and illegal contact."

Detroit's reasoning for the proposal? The Lions claim the "current penalty enforcement is too punitive for the defense" and believe changing it would provide more "competitive equity" for the league.

NFL bylaw change proposals 2025

There were also two bylaw change proposals for the NFL in 2025. These changes would not impact the game on-the-field but would result in changes to the league's postseason format and roster construction.

Here's what to know about the proposed bylaw changes:

Changes to playoff seeding

Proposed by: Detroit Lions

The Lions are seeking to "amend the current playoff seeding format" in a way that would allow wild-card teams to be seeded higher than division champions.

Under Detroit's proposal, each conference's four division winners would still make the postseason. However, rather than those four teams getting the top-four seeds, the seedings would be determined simply by which of the seven playoff teams had the best record.

Ironically, this change would have played to the advantage of the Lions' divisional rival, the Minnesota Vikings, last season. The Vikings had a 14-3 record but were given the NFC's No. 5 seed after the Lions won the NFC North with a 15-2 record. Under the proposed seeding format, Minnesota would have been the NFC's No. 3 seed.

The Lions claim the proposal "provides excitement and competition in late season games" and "rewards the best-performing teams from the regular season."

Roster management changes

Proposed by: Detroit Lions

The Lions proposed another rule change that would result in additional "roster flexibility." Detroit suggests allowing teams not to count players placed on injured reserve on or before the day of roster reduction against the league's existing 90-player limit for roster size.

Detroit believes the change "allows clubs to better manage their 90-man rosters late in the season in the event of an unusually high number of players being placed on the Reserve/Injured list."

The Lions had a great deal of injuries during the 2024 NFL season, which may have inspired them to propose this switch.

How do rule changes work in the NFL?

Potential rule changes are reviewed by the NFL competition committee, which includes various team owners, front-office officials and even active head coaches.

The NFL states the committee is instructed to consider the following questions about new rule and rule change proposals:

Does the change improve the game?
How will it be officiated?
How will it be coached?
Can the player apply the rule on the field?
Does the change enhance player protection?

Once the NFL competition committee outlines how the rule change will be implemented, all 32 team owners vote on whether or not to adopt the rule at an annual league meeting. The new rule must have a 75% approval rating (24 of 32 teams) to pass.

Last year's rule changes included the implementation of the NFL's new kickoff format and a ban on hip-drop tackles.

When will NFL vote on rule change proposals?

The NFL will vote on its proposed changes to the rules at the league's annual meeting. That will take place from March 30 to April 2 in 2025.

USA TODAY's Jack McKessy also contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL rule change proposals 2025: Packers request 'Tush Push' ban

Topics

Banning the tush push and changes to playoff seeding are among proposed NFL rule changes

The Green Bay Packers have formally proposed a rule change to ban the tush push and the Detroit Lions proposed that playoff seeding be done based on record instead of automatically placing division ...
Yahoo Sports - 10h
Packers officially propose a change to Rule 12, Section 1, banning the Eagles 'Tush Push'

On Wednesday, the Packers proposed changing Rule 12, Section 1 to permanently ban the Eagles 'Tush Push' at the annual league meetings in two weeks
Yahoo Sports - 11h
NFL rule changes 2025: Packers move to outlaw 'Tush Push,' while Lions suggest major playoff seeding change

The competition committee will review several potential changes this offseason
CBS Sports - 10h
NFL releases official language of Packers' anti-tush push rule change proposal

The Eagles' version of the quarterback sneak will be banned if the Packers can convince 23 other teams to vote for their proposed new rule.
Yahoo Sports - 11h
Packers proposal to eliminate 'tush push' among three rule changes NFL will consider for 2025 season

The NFL could effectively eliminate the "tush push" for the 2025 season.
Yahoo Sports - 10h
NFL to consider tush push ban, changes to playoff seeding

NFL team owners will consider proposals to ban the tush push and for a change to playoff seeding format this off-season, the league announced Wednesday.
Yahoo Sports - 9h
NFL to mull ban on Eagles 'tush push' move: league

The NFL will mull a ban on the Philadelphia Eagles' dominant "tush push" play when it considers a raft of proposed rule changes at its annual meeting later this month, the league said Wednesday.As ...
Yahoo Sports - 5h
Packers officially propose banning the 'tush push'

The Green Bay Packers have proposed banning the “tush push” play for the upcoming NFL season and beyond, the league confirmed on Wednesday.
NBC News - 10h
The Lions’ proposed NFL playoff change would make divisions kind of pointless

This NFL playoff change proposed by the Lions makes logical sense, but would only serve to ultimately make the regular season meaningless.
Yahoo Sports - 9h

More from Yahoo Sports

Wild's Marco Rossi Exits Seattle Game With Lower-Body Injury

ST. PAUL - Well, the injuries just keep coming for the Minnesota Wild. They entered Wednesday's game without Marcus Foligno for the second consecutive game and also did not have Marcus Johansson ...
Yahoo Sports - 12m
Pacers rally past Mavs

Yahoo Sports - 14m
Jaylin Williams' triple-double helps short-handed Thunder cruise past 76ers 133-100

Yahoo Sports - 18m
Mamukelashvili's career-high 34 points, 7 3-pointers fuel Spurs past Knicks 120-105

Sandro Mamukelashvili was 13 of 14 from the field, including 7 for 7 on 3-pointers, for a career-high 34 points and the San Antonio Spurs upended the New York Knicks 120-105 on Wednesday night. ...
Yahoo Sports - 18m
Nets' Cam Johnson (rest) out Thursday at Pacers

Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson is out for Thursday's game at the Indiana Pacers due to rest, the team announced on Wednesday.
Yahoo Sports - 19m

More in Sports

Wild's Marco Rossi Exits Seattle Game With Lower-Body Injury

ST. PAUL - Well, the injuries just keep coming for the Minnesota Wild. They entered Wednesday's game without Marcus Foligno for the second consecutive game and also did not have Marcus Johansson ...
Yahoo Sports - 12m
Pacers rally past Mavs

Yahoo Sports - 14m
Follow live: Texas, Xavier square off in First Four matchup

null
ESPN - 17m
Jaylin Williams' triple-double helps short-handed Thunder cruise past 76ers 133-100

Yahoo Sports - 18m
Mamukelashvili's career-high 34 points, 7 3-pointers fuel Spurs past Knicks 120-105

Sandro Mamukelashvili was 13 of 14 from the field, including 7 for 7 on 3-pointers, for a career-high 34 points and the San Antonio Spurs upended the New York Knicks 120-105 on Wednesday night. ...
Yahoo Sports - 18m