The NFL offseason is in full swing, and while the free agency frenzy has cooled off, things are heating up in a different way as we approach the Annual League Meeting—better known as the owners’ meeting—set for March 30 to April 2 in Palm Beach, Florida. This is where the league’s bigwigs get together to hash out the future, and one of the juiciest parts is the rule change proposals teams put on the table. This year, the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, and Green Bay Packers have come forward with some ideas that could shake up the game in 2025. Let’s break down what they’re proposing and what it could mean for the NFL.
First up, the Lions are tackling a rule that’s been a thorn in their side. They want to ditch the automatic first down that comes with defensive holding and illegal contact penalties. Right now, if a defender gets flagged for either of those, the offense gets the yardage and a fresh set of downs—a double whammy that Detroit thinks is too harsh. The Lions aren’t saying those penalties should go away; they just want to strip out the automatic first down, leaving the yardage as the punishment. They’re calling it a matter of “competitive equity,” and it’s easy to see why they’re frustrated. In 2024, Detroit got hit with 11 defensive holding calls—way above the league average of about 5 or 6, per NFLPenalties.com. That’s a lot of extra first downs for opponents, and in a league where every play counts, the Lions are pushing for a fairer shake. If this passes, it could force offenses to work a bit harder for their conversions, especially in crunch time.
Meanwhile, the Eagles are looking to level the playing field in overtime—but for the regular season. They’re proposing to bring the playoff overtime rules to the regular slate, meaning both teams would be guaranteed a chance to touch the ball in OT, even if the first team scores a touchdown. Right now, a regular-season game can end on the opening possession if the team that wins the coin toss marches down and punches it in—something that’s left plenty of fans (and players) feeling cheated. Philly’s idea would set a 15-minute overtime period where both squads get their shot, no matter what. They’re pitching this as “competitive equity,” and it’s hard to argue with the logic. The NFL tweaked playoff OT rules a few years back after the Bills got burned in the AFC Championship, never even getting a chance to respond to a Chiefs touchdown. The Eagles, who didn’t play any overtime games in 2024, still see this as a way to make things fairer across the board. If this gets the green light, it could lead to some wild finishes—and maybe a few less complaints about coin-toss luck.
Then there’s the Packers, who are coming for the Eagles’ signature play: the Tush Push, or as Philly fans call it, the “Brotherly Shove.” Green Bay’s proposal would ban the play by making it illegal for an offensive player to push a teammate who’s lined up directly behind the center and takes the snap. If this passes, it’d be a 10-yard penalty—same as other infractions where an offensive player illegally assists the ball carrier. The Packers are citing “player safety” and “pace of play” as their reasons, which makes sense on the surface. The Tush Push, where the Eagles line up guys behind Jalen Hurts to shove him forward on short-yardage plays, has been a headache for defenses—Philly’s converted 87% of their attempts over the last three seasons, per ESPN Research. But the safety angle feels a bit shaky; CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reported the league’s own data shows a 0% injury rate on the play. Pace of play might be the stronger argument—those scrums at the line can drag on—but some fans and analysts are calling this a cop-out. “Don’t ban it, stop it,” one opinion piece on USA Today argued, and Eagles coach Nick Sirianni has echoed that, saying it’s “unfair” to outlaw a play just because Philly does it better than anyone else.
These proposals are just the start of the conversation. They’ll be debated at the league meeting, and any rule change needs 24 of the 32 owners to vote yes to pass. The Tush Push ban might be the headliner—especially after the Eagles used it to score in their Super Bowl LIX win over the Chiefs last month—but all three ideas could have a big impact. The Lions’ penalty tweak could shift the balance between offense and defense, especially for teams like Detroit that feel burned by the current rules. Philly’s overtime change could make regular-season games feel more like the playoffs, giving us more dramatic finishes. And if the Tush Push gets the axe, well, Eagles fans might riot—but it’d force teams to get creative on third-and-short.
For now, these are just proposals, but they’re a sign of where the NFL might be headed. The owners’ meeting is always a sneaky-important part of the offseason, and with ideas like these on the table, 2025 could look a little different on the field. Keep an eye on Palm Beach next week—this is where the game’s future gets shaped.
