NFL Owners to Discuss Replacement Officials, Rule Changes at Annual Meeting

Potential changes to kickoff rules, technology, international growth, and concussion data also on the agenda.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 5:19pm

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NFL owners, executives, and coaches will gather this week in Arizona for the league's annual meeting, where they will discuss a range of topics including the potential use of replacement officials, possible rule changes, advances in technology and artificial intelligence, international expansion, and concussion data from the 2025 season.

Why it matters

The annual NFL meeting is a critical event where league leadership sets the agenda and makes key decisions that will impact the game on the field, fan experience, and the league's long-term growth. Discussions around replacement officials and rule changes could have significant implications for the quality of officiating and gameplay, while topics like international expansion and AI technology point to the NFL's efforts to innovate and reach new audiences.

The details

The biggest proposal from the NFL competition committee is a contingency plan to use replacement officials if the league and the NFL Referees Association cannot reach a new collective bargaining agreement before the current one expires on May 31. The proposal would allow the replay center in New York to advise on-field officials on missed calls for roughing the passer, intentional grounding, and ejectionable acts. The league also plans to discuss potential tweaks to the dynamic kickoff rule that was introduced in 2024, including allowing a 5-4-2 alignment. Additionally, the NFL will address advances in technology and artificial intelligence, including the use of chips in footballs and virtual measurements. International growth is another key focus, with the league playing nine games abroad this season, including the first regular-season contests in France and Australia.

  • The current collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association expires on May 31, 2026.
  • The dynamic kickoff rule was introduced in 2024, and the league saw a significant increase in returns and return yards in 2025 compared to the previous year.

The players

Jeff Miller

NFL executive who discussed the league's preparations for potentially using replacement officials.

Rich McKay

Atlanta Falcons CEO and Competition Committee Chair who provided an update on the dynamic kickoff rule.

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What they’re saying

“The negotiations with the officials have not gone as quickly as we would have wanted. We've made a number of proposals. We're looking to improve the accountability and performance of the officials, and we just haven't gotten to where we need to go. So, we're going to play football this fall, and we're going to need officials to do it. So, this is part of the preparation, and we felt compelled to make these sorts of decisions in anticipation of playing football in a different environment.”

— Jeff Miller, NFL Executive

“In 2024, we had 920 returns, and we had 25,000 return yards. In 2025, we had 2,076 returns, and we had 53,869 yards. So that's just a crazy change in the game, one that we've worked on for a long time. It's a credit to the special teams coaches who've gotten together and really helped influence where we are on that play. It's a credit to our head coaches for being able to be flexible enough to adopt and adapt, I should say, to the play. So, it's a really good story.”

— Rich McKay, Atlanta Falcons CEO and Competition Committee Chair

What’s next

The NFL will continue negotiations with the NFL Referees Association in the coming months to try to reach a new collective bargaining agreement before the current one expires on May 31.

The takeaway

The NFL's annual meeting is a crucial event where league leadership sets the agenda and makes important decisions that will shape the future of the sport. This year's discussions around replacement officials, rule changes, technology, international growth, and concussion data highlight the league's efforts to address key challenges and opportunities as it looks to continue its evolution and expansion.