2023 NFL RULES CHANGES

INSTANT REPLAY REVERSAL
New for 2023, when an instant replay decision results in a reversal under 2:00, the play clock will be reset to :40 instead of :25; unless another rule requires otherwise, such as when there is also a :10 runoff, in which case the play clock will be reset to :30.

Additionally, inside 2:00, reversing from a ruling with a stopped clock to one with a running clock requires either a :10 second runoff or a charged team timeout.


FAILED FOURTH-DOWN CONVERSIONS
All failed fourth-down conversions will now be an automatic booth review, similar to other turnover situations. Head coaches are prohibited from challenging a failed fourth-down conversion.

However, successful fourth-down conversions still require a coach to challenge unless they occur inside the two-minute warning or during overtime.


POINTS OF CLARIFICATION

USE OF HELMET
The Officiating Department will continue to emphasize the Use of Helmet rule, first adopted in 2018.

The officiating standards for the Use of Helmet rule are:

• Lowering the head (not to include bracing for contact)
• Initiating contact with the helmet to any part of an opponent's body. Contact does not have to be to an opponent’s head or neck area — lowering the head and initiating contact to an opponent’s torso, hips, and lower body, is also a foul.

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
Starting in 2023, tripping is now a personal foul, 15-yard penalty and is subject to additional discipline whether it is called or not called on the field by officials.

What is tripping? The use of the leg or foot to obstruct any opponent (including a runner).

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My favorite tripping moment has to be from a Packers/Steelers game.

Earlier in the game, I believe it was TJ Watt got away with a tripping non-call, which of course upset Packers fans.

Then on a run play, I believe LG Runyan was CLEARLY holding the NT (but the Refs stopped calling holding onto he OL, unless clearly away from the body) but Runyan was clearly holding close to his body and holding the NT upper body near him.

So the NT did the only thing he could do, threw his legs out there and it worked! But he got called off tripping. But just seeing how upset the NT was (and he was absolutely right, if he wasn't clearly being illegally held (which refs were not at that time calling) then he probably easily could of made that play).


I felt bad for the NT, he got screwed by the NFL not enforcing the actual rules but the big picture, the Steelers got away with one earlier and so it all evened out. 
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I am curious on the helmet rule now that it goes for all parts of the body, will they start calling this on runners when they have the ball? Remember the old put your head down and plow forward for that yard? You can't have it for the defense and let the offense do it.

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This rule must exclude offensive and defensive linemen or what in high school is referred to as the "free blocking zone".  Otherwise just about every other block would be called .

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This will matter only when the officials need to determine the outcome of games.

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