New Rules for the 2015-16 Season

The Competition Committee receives and considers input from coaches, general managers, owners and players before changing any rule, and these changes are the result of hours of discussion and film study.

Rules changes

• Beginning in 2015, defenseless player protections are expanded to the intended receiver of a pass following an interception or potential interception. A receiver who is clearly tracking the football and is in a defenseless posture will receive defenseless player protections. It will be a foul to hit this player forcibly in the head or neck area, or use the crown or hairline parts of the helmet. Violations result in a 15-yard penalty that will be enforced after the change of possession.

• Rules prohibiting illegal “peel back” blocks now extend to all offensive players. Before, the rule only applied to players who were in the tackle box at the snap. When approaching an opponent from the side, a blocker must get his near shoulder across the front of his body to legally block his opponent below the waist. It’s still legal to cut a defender, provided the blocker is moving toward his opponent’s end line.
• All chop blocks involving a back are eliminated to give defenders additional protection from low blocks. Any time a back is involved in a high/low block on a defender during a run, it is a foul for an illegal chop block. Before, on a running play, a player in the backfield could chop a defender who was engaged above the waist by another offensive player, if the contact occurred outside the normal position of the tight end. Any high/low block during a passing or kicking play has been and will continue to be illegal.

Two special teams changes will take effect in 2015.

• First, the prohibition against pushing teammates into the offensive formation is extended to punt plays. Before, this rule only applied to field goals and extra point kick attempts. Violations result in a 15-yard penalty.
• Second, the ball will now be snapped from the 15-yard line on extra point kick attempts. Two point-conversions will still be snapped from the two-yard line. Also new in 2015, the defense will be able to return a blocked kick, interception or fumble for two points.

Medical Timeouts

In 2015, independent (certified athletic trainers) ATC spotters located in the press box are allowed to notify game officials to stop the game if a player exhibits obvious signs of disorientation or is clearly unstable, and it becomes apparent that the player will remain in the game. Once the game is stopped, the player will leave the game to be evaluated by the medical staff. The game can only be stopped if both the game officials and also the medical staff fail to recognize the potential injury. Game officials have been directed to be diligent in this area and will stop the game when a player appears to be disoriented so he can get medical attention.

Points of Emphasis

The league will also emphasize points on several existing rules this season, although the rules themselves have not changed.

• The language pertaining to a catch was clarified to provide a better understanding of the rule. In order to complete a catch, a receiver must clearly become a runner. He does that by gaining control of the ball, touching both feet down and then, after the second foot is down, having the ball long enough to clearly become a runner, which is defined as the ability to ward off or protect himself from impending contact. If, before becoming a runner, a receiver falls to the ground in an attempt to make a catch, he must maintain control of the ball after contacting the ground. If he loses control of the ball after contacting the ground and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete. Reaching the ball out before becoming a runner will not trump the requirement to hold onto the ball when you land. When you are attempting to complete a catch, you must put the ball away or protect the ball so it does not come loose.
• The league will continue to strictly enforce all rules that encourage player safety. Players must avoid hitting or blocking opponents in the head or neck area, or using the crown or hairline parts of the helmet to make forcible contact anywhere on the body. The league will focus on eliminating these tactics from the game.

• The league’s emphasis on sportsmanship last season led to a decrease of fouls in this area. In 2015, the same emphasis will be placed on eliminating abusive, threatening or insulting language directed at opponents, teammates, coaches, officials or representatives of the league. This includes racial slurs, comments regarding sexual orientation or other verbal abuse. Coaches, officials and other league personnel will be held to the same high standard.
• Fighting is unacceptable and the league policy on fighting is clear and states the following: “Don’t fight, and if a fight breaks out involving other players, stay away.” Any active participant in a fight will be penalized. Flagrant conduct will result in ejections and any player that does not immediately leave the fight area will be subject to a fine.
• Last season, there were several situations where players pulling opponents off a pile following a loose ball led to altercations. Pulling a player off a pile in an aggressive, forcible manner will result in a 15-yard penalty. If a player is not part of the initial pile, then his best course of action is to not get involved. This will allow game officials to determine possession and help reduce some of the safety risks involved with joining a pile.

Learn more about the evolution of the NFL rules.