Since the 2020 season will soon be upon us, it is time to post the Official NFL Rulebook, as well as provide a listing of the new rules changes.
To download a PDF of the entire 2020 Official Playing Rules of the NFL, click here.
2020 NFL RULES CHANGES
DEFENSELESS PLAYERS ON PUNTS AND KICKOFFS
The Competition Committee voted to expand the rule that protects a player in a defenseless position to include a kickoff or punt returner who is attempting to field a kick in the air, but who has not had time to clearly become a runner. If the player can avoid or ward off impending contact, he is no longer defenseless.
GAME CLOCK START AFTER FOUL IN FOURTH QUARTER
Beginning in the 2020 season, if the offense commits a foul after the ball is made ready for play and causes the clock to stop before a snap during the fourth quarter or overtime, the game clock will start on the snap. Previously, if the clock was stopped for a foul before the five-minute mark of the fourth quarter, the clock would start on the referee’s signal.
REPLAY INITIATED BY REPLAY OFFICIAL
The Committee has made permanent that reviews of the following types of plays can only be initiated by the replay official, even if a foul on the play negates the ruling:
• All try attempts
• All scoring plays
• All plays with an interception
• All plays with a fumble or backward pass either recovered by an opponent or that goes out of bounds through the end zone.
