EAGAN, Minn. — NFL Owners have voted to approve five rule changes, three bylaws and a resolution submitted by Pittsburgh for the upcoming season.
Owners from all 32 clubs are in Arizona this week for the NFL's Annual League Meeting, and on Tuesday voted to implement rule changes and bylaws submitted by the NFL Competition Committee — which, as of mid-February, includes Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell.
The following adjustments have been approved for the 2026 campaign.
Approved Playing Rules
- By Competition Committee; To permit the kicking team to declare an onside kick at any time during the game.
Previously, teams could only declare an onside kick if trailing in the fourth quarter. That was amended in 2025 to allow a team that was trailing to attempt an onside kick at any time. Teams now can declare an onside kick in any quarter and regardless of whether they are leading or trailing.
- By Competition Committee; To eliminate the kicking team's incentive to intentionally kick the ball out of bounds when kicking off from the 50-yard line.
Teams could previously choose to kick out of bounds when a personal conduct penalty set the kickoff spot to the 50-yard line, which forced the opposing team to begin their possession at the 25-yard line.
All touchbacks will now come out to the 20-yard line.
Put another way, let's say Team A scores, and Team B commits a penalty that would result in the ball moving from Team A's 35 to the 50 for the ensuing kickoff.
Team A can try to force a return with the goal of pinning Team B inside the 20, declare attempt of an onside kick, or opt for a deadball touchback kick result (possibly out of the end zone) that would spot the ball at the 20 for Team B.
- By Competition Committee: To modify the kickoff alignment requirements for the receiving team players in the setup zone.
The receiving team previously had to place a minimum of six players lined up with their front foot on the restraining line. Only five players will be now required to line up with their front foot on the restraining line. Former rules dictated that only three players not on the restraining line could be in the setup zone; the updated rule allows four to do so. However, a team cannot cluster four players in front of the returners; at least one player will need to line up between the sideline and in-bounds line on either side of the field.
- By Competition Committee; To allow the NFL Officiating Department to correct clear and obvious misses made by on-field officials that impact the game, in the event there is a work stoppage involving the game officials represented by the NFL Referees Association. **
** This change has been approved for one year only on a trial basis. With the potential of a referee strike for the 2026 season, NFL offices in New York will have the power to overrule a blatant mistake.
- By Competition Committee; To allow league personnel to consult with on-field officials when considering disqualifications for both flagrant football acts and non-football acts without being called on the field. This will include instructing officials at the venues to add a flag after the consultation.
Approved bylaws
- By Competition Committee; Permits the League office to adjust the procedures and related dates and deadlines for the final roster reduction to accommodate an international game scheduled in the first week of the regular season.
- By Competition Committee; Establishes the Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend as business days to provide clubs with personnel notices during the first weekend after the roster reduction.
- By Competition Committee; Permits players on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform to begin a 21-day practice period after the club's second game of the regular season.
Approved Resolution
By Pittsburgh; 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 Agent during the Two-Day Negotiation Period, and to permit clubs to make travel arrangements with such players upon agreeing to terms.
Additional notes:
According to NFL.com columnist Judy Battista, NFL owners approved an expansion of behavioral and mental health services. Beginning in 2019, teams had been mandated to employ a part-time mental health clinician at the facility. This updated program will require all teams to have a full-time mental health clinician available.
Battista noted the NFL wants to address the entire continuum of mental health, with the "hope that it will help prevent crises." There also will be an emphasis on "helping vulnerable players who are separated from their teams," such as those on an Injured Reserve list.
This expansion was announced a little more than a month after the tragic loss of former Vikings receiver Rondale Moore, who was found deceased in his home state of Indiana on Feb. 21, 2026.
View 2026 Free Agency Tracker.
See the Vikings 2026 Opponents.
Check out the Vikings 2026 Draft Picks.
View future opponents for the Vikings.
Buy single game tickets.
Download the official Vikings App.
