NFL to discuss league-first rule change that J.J. Watt worries will bring ‘levels of chaos’ to game

The NFL is open to discussing a major rule change that will use video review to assess penalties for violations related to player safety that are missed by officials.

In what would be a league first, plays like facemask, unnecessary roughness, roughing the passer and hip-drop tackles could all be subject to flags being thrown after a review.

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Under the current rules, replay assist can only adjudicate whether a flag already on the field should have been thrown.

Dawn Aponte, the NFL‘s head of football operations, revealed on Friday that the competition committee will be open to discussing the topic during the offseason.

A potential rule change could be made in spring, ahead of the 2026 regular season.

Why is the NFL considering significant rule change?

“I would just say from a player health and safety perspective, we would like to introduce all and any opportunity and options for either putting a flag on the field or any way to try to address this in-game,” Aponte said.

Jeff Miller, the NFL executive vice president in charge of player safety, added that improving safety will always be the priority, but that he is unsure exactly what that would look like.

“It’s a newer conversation,” Miller said.

“We need to decrease to the extent we can, or improve safety, and one of the ways is to address what happens on field.

“However we go about doing that is something we’ll talk to the committee about.”

As technology has advanced, the NFL has remained firm on the idea that the game is to be officiated by humans on the football field.

Therefore, any change to replay assist would be significant, but not unprecedented.

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In 2019, the league made pass interference reviewable, but that decision proved unpopular and was scrapped after one year.

The issue of player safety, though, is different.

Facemask penalties have been among the most clear violations that officials have missed, while the NFL has also moved to eradicate hip-drop tackles from the game entirely.

Aponte revealed that the league issued 30 fines for the play in 2025, which puts players in danger of sustaining severe knee and ankle injuries.

However, officials threw just two flags for that tackle, and one of those was an incorrect call and therefore didn’t result in a fine.

NFL fans split over potential rule change

While the NFL is moving to improve player safety, reports of the new rule split opinion amongst fans.

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Some were concerned that a flag could be thrown on nearly every play, and others questioned if the move would take too much responsibility away from the on-field officials.

Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt was one of the first to share his thoughts.

The future Hall of Famer, who has been tipped for a big broadcast role with CBS, is worried that the rule change would bring ‘chaos’ to every game.

Watt posted on X: “Imagine the levels of chaos when a ref comes on the mic three minutes after a pick-6 and says ‘the ruling on the field was INT and TD by the defense. However, after further review, replay officials have decided to throw a flag for roughing the passer.'”

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Others shared similar thoughts.

“Can we just go to flag football and call it a day? Besides, who’s great idea was it to say ‘you know what the NFL needs? More flags, play stoppage and games decided by officiating,'” one fan wrote on X.

“Yes, more flags that’s what every NFL fan wants,” a second said, sarcastically.

“This could be the most disastrous rule the NFL has ever considered. Outside of how much it’s going to kill pace of play, The LAST thing the league needs is more flags,” a third claimed.

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“Another step toward making football more unwatchable,” a fourth concluded.

“Like we don’t have enough stupid penalties slowing down and ruining the game as it is,” a fifth said.

Some fans, though, were keen to see the change.

“Good! It’s ridiculous that this isn’t a thing already,” one posted on X.

“I’m okay with this decision. Defenses get way too aggressive on some quarterbacks at certain times of the game,” another wrote.

“Shows how many they miss of certain calls,” a third said of the on-field officials.

Any rule change the NFL makes will undoubtedly split opinion amongst fans. But if the competition committee and clubs choose to prioritze player safety in 2026, next season could look very different.

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