Replacement officials, potential rule changes, artificial intelligence, health and safety issues, international growth and will be among many topics discussed when NFL owners, executives and coaches gather for their annual meeting this week in Arizona.
One topic that dominated the conversation this time last year 鈥� the tush push 鈥� isn鈥檛 on the agenda because there is no proposal to eliminate the play even though it was nearly banned in a close vote in 2025.
NFC coaches will speak to reporters on Monday, AFC coaches will do so on Tuesday and Commissioner Roger Goodell closes it out.
Here鈥檚 a look at the several topics:
Replacement officials
The biggest proposal released by the NFL competition committee is a contingency if the league chooses to use replacement officials in case of a work stoppage as it did to start the 2012 season. The current collective bargaining agreement with the NFL and the NFL Referees Association expires on May 31.
The proposal would allow the replay center in New York to advise the on-field officials on any missed roughing the passer or intentional grounding penalty, as well as any act that would have led to an ejection had a penalty been called.
The NFL鈥檚 used of replacement officials for the first three weeks of the 2012 season resulted in several mistakes and wrong calls, including the disputed TD catch known as the 鈥淔ail Mary.鈥�
鈥淭he negotiations with the officials have not gone as quickly as we would have wanted,鈥� NFL executive Jeff Miller said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e made a number of proposals. We鈥檙e looking to improve the accountability and performance of the officials, and we just haven鈥檛 gotten to where we need to go. So, we鈥檙e going to play football this fall, and we鈥檙e 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.鈥�
Dynamic kickoff changes
There are several minor tweaks being proposed for the dynamic kickoff rule that is entering its third season.
鈥淚n 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,鈥� said Rich McKay, Atlanta Falcons CEO and Competition Committee Chair. 鈥淪o that鈥檚 just a crazy change in the game, one that we鈥檝e worked on for a long time. It鈥檚 a credit to the special teams coaches who鈥檝e gotten together and really helped influence where we are on that play. It鈥檚 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鈥檚 a really good story.
鈥淏ut we won鈥檛 just leave it alone. This year, we鈥檙e going to propose that we allow the 5-4-2 alignment. … That really was the original alignment the special teams coaches wanted, but we were just taking our time and kind of being a little conservative, if you will, in how we allowed the alignment change. So, that鈥檚 kind of our process and how we got to where we are.鈥�
Technology and AI
The league has embraced advances in technology and artificial intelligence, including putting chips in footballs and using virtual measurements to determine first downs.
鈥淭he ability to use any modern technologies in media to advance the game on the field or with our fans, especially internationally, is coming at a really important time for the league鈥檚 growth,鈥� Miller said.
International growth
The NFL is playing this season, including the first regular-season games in France and Australia. The goal is to eventually play 16 games abroad.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an incredibly important area of our business and growth and takes up a good amount of time during these meetings,鈥� Miller said.
Concussions
There were 35 concussions on kickoffs in 2025 compared to eight in 2024 mainly because moving the touchback to the 35-yard line resulted in 1,157 more returns. The kick return rate jumped to 74% from 33% last season, and it was the highest return rate in 15 years. Still, the overall injury rate is lower than previous kickoffs, when the coverage team had a running start compared to the standing start of the new rule.
鈥淭he goal was to have a fewer, lower injury rate on that play, and to make it seem more like a play from scrimmage, which has been accomplished by and large,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淏ut we always knew that we were going to revisit this play as soon as we had more data on it, and with an almost 75% return rate this year, we have a whole lot of plays that we鈥檝e been working through and a lot of people and we鈥檝e been working really diligently on this because we think the results are heading into a really good direction. But we do need to address the injuries that we saw to the returner and to the tackler this year.鈥�
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