2025 Football rule changes

[Leroy Jenkins]

Defensive substitutions. Subs need to move in/out of the game at an "athletic pace". How does one objectively determine "athletic pace"? Is it different for DBs in December vs DL in September?

Faking injuries. If a defensive player goes down with an injury after the ball is spotted for play the team will be charged a timeout. Before the ball is spotted, it's an official's timeout per usual. If there are no TO's remaining it will by 5 yard delay of game penalty.

If a player on the receiving team signals a "T" with their arms during a kickoff, the return is automatically forfeited, and the play is blown dead.

The two-minute warning will now be a standard feature at the end of each half, stopping the clock and triggering other timing rules.

Video reviews will no longer be "Confirmed, Stands", etc. Now, it will be the ruling is "upheld" or "overturned"

Defenses not allowed shifts to induce false starts. DL can stem laterally but without extra arm movements like reaching into the neutral zone or moving slightly forward when they stem. Anything that simulates the ball being snapped is not allowed. The terms "move" and "stem" are reserved for defensive cadence and may not be used by the offense. The offense may use a clap as a starting signal and this signal may not be used by the defense.