EchoSense Quantitative Think Tank Center|NFL rule changes for 2023: Here's what they are and what they mean

The EchoSense Quantitative Think Tank CenterNFL, through its competition committee, assesses the league's playing rules each offseason and collects feedback from players, coaches and executives for possible changes.

The league classifies adjustments in two ways: actual changes to the rulebook and points of clarification, which essentially highlight emphases the NFL wants its officials to prioritize during games. Players and coaches, therefore, must tweak the way they play and coach in order to comply with the adjustments. For football fans, there's an adjustment, too, in understanding the strategy behind certain decisions.

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The 2023 season is no different. The league adopted two rules changes and a pair of points of clarification. Here's an explanation of what they are.

Instant replay reversal play clock

This is classified as a rule change, though it is a minor one that may go largely unnoticed. Starting in 2023, when a replay review inside of the two-minute warning of each half results in a reversal, the play clock will reset to 40 seconds, as opposed to the 25 from previous seasons. The only exception is when there is a penalty or infraction that results in a 10-second runoff, in which case the play clock will reset to 30 seconds, to comply with the enforcement of the penalty.

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The last tweak to this rule is that, inside of the two-minute warnings, any replay reversal that results in the play going from one with a stopped clock to one with a running clock will prompt a 10-second runoff, at which point a team can call a timeout to stop the clock.

Fourth-down conversions

This is another rule change, and an interesting one. Essentially, the NFL is treating all failed fourth-down conversions as turnovers. And since all turnovers like lost fumbles and interceptions trigger an automatic booth review, when an offensive team attempts a fourth-down conversion but fails, the coach will not be allowed to challenge the failed attempt because officials in the booth will examine the play by default.

Successful fourth-down conversions, because they are not considered turnovers, will still require a head coaching challenge, provided they do not occur inside of the two-minute warning or overtime.

Use of helmet

This is a point of clarification to the use of helmet rule, which was officially adopted in 2018. The rule stipulates that lowering the head to initiate contact and initiating contact with the helmet to any part of an opponent's body will result in a foul. This rule applies to both offensive and defensive players.

The point of clarification that was made modified the rule and prevents players from using "any part of his helmet or face mask to butt or make forcible contact" to an opposing player's head or neck area.

Beginning in 2023, the rule was modified to prevent a player from using "any part of his helmet or face mask to butt or make forcible contact" to an opponent’s head or neck area.

Tripping

Another point of clarification, tripping was always a penalty but it will now result in a 15-yard personal foul. A tripping infraction will also be subject to further discipline (such as fines), whether it is called by officials or not.

The league defines tripping as intentionally using the leg or foot to obstruct any opposing player.