NEW ORLEANS — The NFL offseason is set to begin shortly after the Philadelphia Eagles celebrate their Super Bowl win this Friday. Just under two weeks later, the scouting combine in Indianapolis will kick off, marking the start of a busy period for the league.
Free agency is scheduled to commence on March 10, which includes a two-day negotiating window. The league’s annual meeting will follow starting on March 30. The seven teams that have appointed new head coaches can begin their offseason workout programs on April 7, while the remaining 25 teams will start two weeks later. All eyes will then turn to the NFL Draft, taking place on April 24 in Green Bay, where Miami quarterback Cam Ward is currently favored to be the first overall pick.
BetMGM Sportsbook has the Eagles as the frontrunners to claim the championship title once again, closely followed by the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, and Kansas City Chiefs.
During the offseason, one of the major focuses for the league will be on player health and safety, along with discussions about potential new rules, particularly pertaining to kickoffs after a year of dynamic changes.
“Transitioning players to better-performing helmets is a big focus for us,” stated NFL executive Jeff Miller. Recent data indicates that 2024 saw the fewest concussions recorded in a season since the NFL began monitoring these figures nine years ago. This report highlights a significant decline of 17% from the previous year, across all practices and games, including both the preseason and regular season.
Miller, who oversees player health and safety, along with NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills, attributed this positive trend to a combination of improved safety equipment, consistent enforcement of safety regulations, and a culture that prioritizes concussion awareness. “While this is a step forward, there’s still room for improvement,” Miller added, referencing the goal of encouraging players to select helmets specifically engineered to lessen the impact of blows. “Additionally, it’s essential to strictly enforce guidelines around head contact,” he emphasized, noting that referees have made significant strides in this area to mitigate unnecessary risks.
Moreover, the league is keen on finding ways to minimize lower-body injuries, examining playing surfaces, and collaborating with Nike on innovative cleat designs to enhance player safety.
Another major point of discussion will be a reevaluation of kickoff rules. Miller pointed out that this topic would take center stage during the offseason, as they analyze the previous year’s data. “Our first year yielded encouraging results with 332 more returns compared to the last season alongside a lower injury incidence rate,” he said. He further noted that the league achieved a notable number of touchdowns and substantial kickoff distances, prompting questions about how to sustain those improvements while maintaining a safety-first approach.
Replay reviews are also set to be a significant topic. NFL executive Troy Vincent indicated that there is a proposal to broaden the replay assist system to encompass facemask penalties and other incidents beyond merely correcting officials’ calls. Currently, replay assist is limited to addressing flags that were either incorrectly thrown or enforcing fouls already called.
Miller suggested that more attention should be directed towards fouls that potentially endanger players, such as hits on defenseless players, tripping, and illegal formations during kickoffs. “We might want to expand replay assistance to include calls that involve significant injury risk,” he noted. The competition committee will have to review any potential recommendations before owners can vote on implementing broader replay assistance.
In summary, as the NFL offseason approaches rapidly, the focus remains not only on team preparations for the upcoming season but also on enhancing player safety and reviewing rules that could further protect athletes on the field.
