NFL rule tweaks you should know as the 2023 season kicks off - ESPN
ESPN The NFL will kick off its regular season Thursday night after a busy offseason of rule changes and policy adjustments that will modify what fans see on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays and -- new for 2023 -- one Friday.
Our annual review of those changes includes the revival of a limited "third quarterback" rule, an expansion of late-season flexible scheduling and the NFL's latest attempt to reduce kickoff returns. We've also noted a few rule proposals that you might have thought the league adopted, or at least hoped it would, but instead left unaddressed for this season.
Much of this work flowed through the league's competition committee, which has undergone changes in recent years and now includes one owner, three team executives, one general manager and four coaches. The full membership:
- Atlanta Falcons CEO Rich McKay (chairman)
- New York Giants owner John Mara
- Cincinnati Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn
- Dallas Cowboys COO Stephen Jones
- Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier
- Carolina Panthers coach Frank Reich
- Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera
- Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin
- Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel
Third QB rule returns with a twist
The NFL brought back a rule that allows teams to carry an active third quarterback on game day without having him count against the NFL-imposed roster limit. But there are new stipulations that likely will limit the use of this option.
