Getting you Ready for the NFL Season with Every New Rule this Year
The NFL season is just around the corner, and we’re keeping you up to date with every new rule being implemented this year. Most seasons, there are a few updated rules here and there, but this season marks some of the biggest changes we’ve seen in decades. Let’s break them down.
Loose Rule: Every once in a while, a wardrobe malfunction is bound to happen during an NFL game. Historically, this hasn’t been a problem. In a move to become more family friendly, however, the NFL has created the Loose Rule. If a player’s pants are too loose and fall down during the play, there will be a 15 yard penalty. Additionally, the player who receives the penalty has to go to a local school and apologize to the children. They must also take the SAT while there, and any score below a 1450 will result in a 3 game suspension.
No Rugs: While most NFL fields use grass or turf, there haven’t actually been any rules against any other surface. To get ahead of any funny business, the NFL has decided to ban the use of rugs as the surface of a field. It is unclear if any teams had this intention, but the NFL is clearly making a statement here. We aren’t sure why rugs were the only non-grass or turf ban, but we won’t be surprised if tile and reclaimed wood are added to this list in 2024.
No Ruggs: The NFL has also banned Las Vegas Raiders receiver Henry Ruggs III from playing this season. He was recently sentenced to 3-10 years in prison for being drunk behind the wheel and killing a woman and her dog. The NFL hasn’t always cared about murder in the league, but they decided to put their foot down in 2023.
Kissing is Allowed: This isn’t a new rule, as it’s always been legal, but the NFL has spent the majority of this offseason letting players know that kissing is allowed. If two consenting players want to smooch during a play, they are supported by the NFL to do so. The league stressed that this has always been allowed, and it seems like they just really want players to start kissing.
First to Ten: Maybe the most shocking announcement, the NFL said last week that instead of four quarters this year, the first team to 10 will automatically win. We imagine that games will be significantly shorter now, and we don’t see how this will grow the sport of football at all. When pressed on the change, Roger Goodell stated that he was getting bored and really just wanted to see what would happen.
53-Man Roster Change: The preseason is over, which means the 53-man roster for each team is set. This year, the decision was a bit more nuanced than usual. The NFL announced that team chefs are required to be part of the 53-man roster in order to work with the team. Historically, these individuals would not count as part of the roster, primarily because they don’t play with the team. They exclusively prepare and serve food. Unfortunately, that’s no longer the case. Teams had to choose between food and defensive talent, and we will soon see the implications.
The season kicks off this Thursday when the Detroit Lions visit the Kansas City Chiefs. We will be watching all the teams, but are confident that Kenny Pickett and the Pittsburgh Steelers will be going 17-0 on their way to a Super Bowl win.