NFL Owners Move Touchbacks To 25-Yard Line, Approve Automatic Ejection Rule

NFL owners voted to pass two rule changes Wednesday with hopes of increasing player safety at the annual meeting.

The ball now will be spotted at the 25-yard line instead of the 20-yard line after touchbacks, and players now will be ejected from a game after two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, the league announced at its annual meeting in Boca Raton, Fla.

Here is the official language in the two new rules.

— 2016 PLAYING RULE PROPOSAL NO. 5

Amend Rule 11, Section 6, Article 3 (Touchback, pg. 46) to read (new language underlined):

ARTICLE 3. BALL NEXT IN PLAY. After a touchback, the team that has been awarded the touchback next snaps the ball at its 20-yard line from any point on or between the inbound lines, unless the touchback results from a free kick, in which case the ball shall be placed at the team’s 25-yard line.

Submitted by Competition Committee

Effect: Changes the spot of the next snap after a touchback resulting from a free kick to
the 25-yard line.

Reason: Player safety.

— 2016 PLAYING RULE PROPOSAL NO. 4

Amend Rule 12 (Player Conduct, p. 47) to add a new Section 4 (new language underlined):

Section 4 Automatic Disqualification.

Article 1. Multiple Fouls. In addition to any penalty referenced elsewhere in the Official Playing Rules, a player will be automatically disqualified in the event that player is penalized twice in the same game for committing one of the unsportsmanlike conduct fouls listed below, or a combination of the fouls listed below:
(a) Throwing a punch, or a forearm, or kicking at an opponent, even though no contact is made.
(b) Using abusive, threatening, or insulting language or gestures to opponents, teammates, officials, or representatives of the League.
(c) Using baiting or taunting acts or words that engender ill will between teams.

The player will be automatically disqualified regardless of whether the penalty is accepted or declined by the opponent. The fouls do not have to be judged by the official to be flagrant for the automatic disqualification to occur, and any foul that occurs during the pregame warm-up period will carry over into the game. Nothing in this section supersedes the Game Official’s discretion to judge a foul to be flagrant and disqualify the player based on one occurrence.

The addition of a new Section 4 will cause the current Section 4 to become Section 5.

Submitted by Competition Committee

Effect: Disqualifies a player who is penalized twice in one game for certain types of unsportsmanlike conduct fouls.

Reason: Player safety and integrity of the game.

The touchback rule was passed with hopes to limit kickoff returns, but it could have an opposite effect. Kickers now could try to place the ball on or near the 1-yard line, forcing returners to try to bring back the ball with hopes he won’t make it to the 25-yard line.

These rules were passed Tuesday.

1. By Competition Committee; Permanently moves the line of scrimmage for Try kicks to the defensive team’s 15-yard line, and allows the defense to return any missed Try.

2. By Competition Committee; Permits the offensive and defensive play callers on the coaching staffs to use the coach-to-player communication system regardless of whether they are on the field or in the coaches’ booth.

3. By Competition Committee; Makes all chop blocks illegal.

16. By Competition Committee; Expands the horse collar rule to include when a defender grabs the jersey at the name plate or above and pulls a runner toward the ground.

17. By Competition Committee; Makes it a foul for delay of game when a team attempts to call a timeout when it is not permitted to do so.

18. By Competition Committee; Eliminates the five-yard penalty for an eligible receiver illegally touching a forward pass after being out of bounds and re-establishing himself inbounds, and makes it a loss of down.

19. By Competition Committee; Eliminates multiple spots of enforcement for a double foul after a change of possession.

Thumbnail photo via Chris Humphreys/USA TODAY Sports Images