Roger Goodell is all the time in search of a brand new option to shake up the established order.
That doesn’t imply making adjustments for the sake of creating adjustments, however the NFL commissioner encourages alterations that push the envelope. Typically they work, typically they don’t.
Put the draft in prime time, and transfer it from metropolis to metropolis…
Enable choreographed landing/turnover celebrations, pace up tempo of play, transfer again PAT kicks…
Shrink the preseason and develop the common season…
Change kickoffs, dramatically develop the worldwide schedule, play video games on Black Friday, Christmas Day and the primary Friday of the season…
Goodell’s philosophy is that success inhibits innovation. He doesn’t wish to hear, “This is how we’ve always done it,” or, “What did we do on that day last season? Let’s do it again.”
So, on the heels of Philadelphia’s Tremendous Bowl victory, and because the league heads into one other offseason, it’s secure to say extra adjustments are afoot, even when they’ve but to completely take form.
First, the adjustments which can be constructed into the sport, the reshuffling of rosters. Among the many star gamers who virtually definitely might be altering groups are All-Professional receiver Cooper Kupp — the Rams have been in search of a commerce accomplice — defensive finish Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns, and quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets, Sam Darnold of the Minnesota Vikings and Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons.
What different adjustments may very well be in retailer?
The Pittsburgh Steelers will play host to a sport in Dublin, which is becoming contemplating the late Dan Rooney, the longtime staff president and proprietor, was a former U.S. ambassador to Eire.
The Indianapolis Colts will play in Berlin and the Miami Dolphins are headed to Madrid. Anticipated to be introduced is a second consecutive sport in Sao Paulo, seemingly one other Friday sport after the Thursday Kickoff Opener.
Saquon Barkley and the Eagles opened their season final fall with a victory over the Packers in Brazil.
(Fernando Llano / Related Press)
The Eagles have been the house staff for an opener in Sao Paulo final fall, and look how their season completed. And bear in mind the 2007 New York Giants, those who surprised the then-undefeated New England Patriots within the Tremendous Bowl? They performed a London sport that season.
Worldwide video games are not considered as unique or disruptive. The NFL in the end might wind up enjoying a full slate of 17 video games past the U.S. borders, a globe-trotting barnstorming tour presumably as an alternative of a hard and fast worldwide franchise. We already know the Rams might be enjoying a 2026 sport in Melbourne virtually definitely as a season opener.
One other Mexico Metropolis sport is within the works, however there are stadium points that should be resolved.
It was once that the NFL would by no means have groups play a number of quick weeks in a season — a membership enjoying a Monday sport adopted by a Sunday sport, greater than as soon as per yr. Now, it occurs on a regular basis. Look ahead to a number of groups to play three video games in 11 days — Monday, Sunday then Thursday.
The Baltimore Ravens performed three video games in 11 days final season — Sunday, Saturday, Wednesday — and went 3-0.
When it comes to scheduling, keep in mind that now each sport is a “free agent,” that means the visiting staff doesn’t decide the community, because it did without end within the NFL.
As an example, suppose again to these years when Tom Brady versus Peyton Manning was the “best” sport of the common season. That alternated backwards and forwards between CBS and NBC. Now many individuals think about that sport to be Patrick Mahomes vs. Josh Allen. It’s eligible for Fox, too. The NFL additionally has put some massive video games on ESPN and it’s persevering with to develop Amazon Prime as an showcase as nicely, so don’t be shocked if a type of big video games winds up on a streaming platform.
The NFL received’t be going to an 18-game schedule in 2025. That can require quite a lot of negotiations between the league and the NFL Gamers Assn., however the idea will percolate all through the season as will an extra discount of the preseason, in all probability touchdown on 18 regular-season video games and two weeks of preseason video games.
Officiating was underneath explicit scrutiny this season, with a broadly pervasive feeling that the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, who received each shut sport in 2024, appeared to get all of the breaks from the staff in stripes. Look ahead to the league to develop the record of reviewable performs, presumably to incorporate facemask calls or non-calls.
“So we want to use technology to supplement and to assist and support the officials getting it right. Replay assists this year, I think, was a big step forward for us. I see in the future us adding more plays, and we’ll look at that with the competition committee.”
The brand new kickoff format was adopted on a one-year foundation, and the chances are might be made everlasting this spring. There may very well be some tweaks, although, comparable to shifting touchbacks from the 30-yard line to the 35.
The league preferred the numbers it noticed out of the so-called dynamic kickoffs, together with returns growing 57% from 2023. Even with 332 performs added again into the sport, the league mentioned, there have been fewer accidents on kickoffs than incurred the earlier season with the standard format.
Search for the league to make everlasting the idea of flexing video games into the Thursday Night time Soccer window. The NFL did that when in two years — Denver on the Chargers in Week 16 final season — and was pleased with the outcomes. The method wasn’t as disruptive as many individuals had feared. Nonetheless, these varieties of scheduling changes determine to be uncommon.
NFL video games on Christmas Day, streamed on Netflix, have been a giant hit final season. Look ahead to the league to do this once more, as Christmas falls on a Thursday, and to develop the Dec. 25 schedule from two video games to a few, matching Thanksgiving Day.
Inexperienced Bay will play host to the draft this yr, a serious occasion for that metropolis, which doesn’t have the inns (or climate) to play host to a Tremendous Bowl. A few of Lambeau Area might be used for the draft, as will the encompassing tailgating areas.
The next yr, the draft might be in Pittsburgh, one other historic NFL metropolis that’s unlikely to get a Tremendous Bowl however that the league feels is deserving of a serious occasion.
