The NFL never sleeps. This week certainly reminds me of that. The NFL annual league meeting, sandwiched between the start of free agency and the start of the NFL draft, has become a treasure trove of information about teams, players and changes in the league’s rulebook this season.
It may take place in Palm Beach, Florida, but it’s nothing more than a holiday for the league’s owners, coaches and assembled media members. You may have time to relax, but the week is primarily about the upcoming 2025 season and the changes that may be ahead.
This year’s league meetings are extremely important as both team and league-based topics will be discussed and hashed out over the next few days. Specifically, quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ future is a controversial play on “Tush Push,” with potential changes to kickoff and overtime are a big storyline that may reach conclusions this week.
Below is the biggest takeaway that began with the 41-year-old quarterback since the start of the NFL annual league meeting.
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Cody Benjamin
What’s next for Aaron Rodgers?
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin confirmed in a recent meeting with Rodgers that the team had “a truly productive day,” but added that after a two-year stint with the Jets there is no deadline for Rodgers to decide his future.
Shortly after Tomlin’s comment was made, a video of Rogers working out with his recent Steelers Wideout DK Metcalf at UCLA over the weekend. Based on Tomlin’s comments and a video of Rogers and Metcalf working together, the future Hall of Fame quarterback appears to be leaning towards signing with Pittsburgh. But until that happens, we continue to wonder and speculate about this situation.
“Tush Push” Update
The future of Philadelphia Eagles banner play has been the topic of hot buttons for a while and has been at the forefront of discussion in Florida. Owners will vote this week to eliminate, make changes, or to keep the play the same. Changes to rules require at least 75% of the vote.
The concern over the safety of players was the party line when coaches were asked about their league meeting play. Reports have emerged saying there is support for the possibility of banning controversial play. Sean McDermott of Buffalo, Andy Reed of Kansas City, and Tomlin of Pittsburgh were among the head coaches who cited health as their main questions about the play. Tomlin added that he is excited to discuss theatre with his peers.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said he supports the proposal to ban the play while citing player safety. This is hardly a surprise as the Packers are reportedly the team that issued a proposal to ban play.
As expected, Eagles coach Nick Silianni wants the play and expects former Philadelphia assistant coach and current NFL head coaches Jonathan Ganon, Shane Steichen and Kellen Moore to have the backs.
“Tush Push” debate: What NFL teams are supporting is against the controversial QB sneak play as the owner is the weight of its future
Cody Benjamin
Building momentum for the 18-game regular season
Although not happening in 2025, it seems increasingly inevitable that the NFL will increase its regular season from 17 to 18 in the somewhat near future, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports NFL Insider. According to Jones, there was a conversation between NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Lloyd Howell, executive director of the NFL Players Association, about extending the regular season.
Adding additional games to the schedule will need to be negotiated collectively, and the current contract will run throughout the 2030 season, but additional games can be added before that.
If additional games are added to the regular season slate, the first week could be held over a week’s weekend. The preseason could also decrease from three games to two games.
Thursday night flex reportedly approved
The NFL owners reportedly passed a resolution that allowed the league to succumb to Sunday night with 21 days notices from week 13 to 17 weeks. A temporary resolution allowing one in a 28-day notice has only bent in one game. The first Thursday night flex in history was last week of charges-broncos showdown, which replaced Bengals Brown.
There is no need for teams to bend multiple times for Thursday night games. The maximum number of games on Thursday nights is still two per team.
Uniform policy changes
Broncos president Damani Leach has announced a new NFL policy that will allow teams to wear alternative or throwback uniforms four times in 17 games. The team was previously allowed to wear that uniform three times during the season.
This is especially welcome news for the Broncos who received a rave review of the 1977 throwback uniform that was first worn last season. Denver was 2-0 in those uniforms in 2024, and all-pro cornerback Patrick Slutein II’s 100-yard pick 6 came along with him in a throwback uniform.
Big votes for the future
In addition to Thursday night flex, here are other big rules that will be voted this week:
The touchback moved to the 35-yard line on kickoff. As the touchback pulled the ball to the 30-yard line in 2024, the proposal is clearly based on kicking the team to more incentive teams rather than kicking in the end zone and calming down for the touchback. Suggestion to change the playoff format. As the Vikings went 14-3 and launched the 2024 playoffs, there was a proposal to give wildcard teams a higher seed than the division winners if they had a better record if they passed. This proposal is not supported by Tomlin. “I’m a departmental purist,” Tomlin said. “I love rivals, which are divisional play. I love the scheduling structure that emphasizes that. I think division winners should get a home playoff game.” The proposal is to implement the same rules for postseason and regular season overtime. The proposal increases regular season overtime from 10 to 15 minutes, ensuring that both teams take ownership. Currently, touchdowns by either team will soon be overtime in the NFL in the regular season.
Kirk Cousins, QB Draft News
The Titans, Browns and Giants, who own the first three picks each in the 2025 NFL Draft, have not ruled out selecting a quarterback on that pick. Titan is expected to choose former Miami quarterback Come Ward, but the team’s brass has publicly stated several times that it has kept its options open. The Giants and Browns are still considering drafting the quarterback, despite recently buying up veterans Russell Wilson and Kenny Pickett, respectively.
Assuming Titan takes the ward, the outlook for the next two top quarterbacks is widely considered to be Chedure Sanders and Jackson Dart. It is also possible that the Atlanta Falcons will trade veteran Kirk Cousins. Cousins could be the version of this year of Russell Wilson, who signed the veteran minimum salary in his final offseason after the Broncos agreed to release him.
If there is a remote chance that your cousin will play elsewhere, such a move will not occur until the team has a clearer idea of what the quarterback situation will look like. For example, the Browns could possibly appear as a legitimate option for their cousins if they don’t draft a quarterback in the first round. For now, however, it appears the Browns will go in a different direction this time after team owner Jimmy Haslam confirmed this week that the team’s last big veteran QB acquisition (Desshaun Watson in 2022) was a “big swing and mistake.”
