CHARLOTTE — Every year, the owners and coaches from all 32 NFL teams descend on the coast of Florida to discuss the future of the league. It's a time for fellowship and debate, codifying existing ideas and proposing new changes to the game. It takes 24 of 32 votes to approve rule changes.

As the league wrapped up the 2025 spring meetings this week, some changes made headlines, while others were quietly passed.

Here is a breakdown of each change/rule passed, and what it could mean for the Carolina Panthers.

Dynamic Kickoff and Touchbacks Approved

The NFL tried out a dynamic kickoff last season, after the approach had been met with success in the United Football League. With the dynamic kickoff, coverage units were frozen until the ball landing in the landing zone or end zone, or the returner caught the ball. The hope was to increase the number of returns. According to a league report, there were 332 more kickoff returns in 2024, an increase of 32.8 percent, up from 21.8 percent. There were also 59 big play returns—40 or more yards —which were the most in the league since 2016.

When on defense, the dynamic kickoff meant testing the landing zone, from the goal line to the 20-yard line. Landing outside the landing zone meant the ball was placed on the 40-yard line. If the ball was a touchback, it would start on the 30-yard line.

The dynamic kickoff format was made permanent with a vote this week, with one small tweak; touchbacks will now be placed at the 35-yard line, instead of the 30, thus encouraging even more returns.

Panthers return Raheem Blackshear averaged 25.5 yards per kickoff return, with a long of 43 yards. Blackshear re-signed with the Panthers on Tuesday, and was already looking forward to the new rule.

"I finally get a chance to bring the ball a lot more, so I'm excited for the rule," Blackshear said.

The Panthers were already one of the more aggressive teams on kickoff defense, targeting the landing zone 41% of the time, which was third most in the NFC.

Teams will also now be allowed to begin preparing kicking balls before game day.

Overtime Rules Changed

The NFL's regular season overtime rules are one of the most controversial rulings debated each offseason, unless it's a year which includes a tush-push debate. This week though, the league voted to adapt the post season overtime rules for the regular season as well. This means each team will now be allowed one possession of the ball, even if the first team to possess the ball in the period scores a touchdown. In the past, if the team who possessed the ball first scored a touchdown, the game was automatically over.

The overtime period for both regular and post season was shortened from 15 minutes to 10 minutes.

The Panthers found themselves in four overtime games last season, going 3-1 in those matches. The overtime rules at that time never hurt Carolina. In Week 10 versus the Giants, New York had the ball first but the Panthers defense made a stop and a field-goal won the game. In Week 13 against Tampa Bay, the only OT loss, the Bucs had the ball first and were stopped, before a Panthers fumble gave Tampa Bay the ball back, after which they scored. In Week 16 (Cardinals) and Week 18 (Falcons), the Panthers won the coin toss and took the ball first in the overtime period, scoring the needed touchdown both times.

Expanding Replay Assist

The NFL Competition Committee put forth a petition to expand replay assist, a measure that was passed. This will allow on-field officials to overrule calls that are considered objective; i.e. facemask, forcible contact to the head or neck area, horse-collar tackles, or tripping. The overruling can only happen if there was "clear and obvious" evidence the foul didn't occur.

This expanded replay would also be able to overturn roughing-the-kicker or running-into-the-kicker if video replay showed the defender first made contact with the ball.

Chain Gang Replaced With Hawk-Eye

Speaking of on-field officials, the league approved an in-game change that will sideline the chain gang. Instead of an officials marking where the ball is spotted, and whether or not a first-down was achieved, the league will now rely on Sony technology, referred to as Hawk-Eye. This technology is already being used to stitch together multiple camera angles for replay assist. It will now be expanded for this usage as well, although the chain gang will remain on the field as a secondary back-up option if needed.

Additional Alternate Uniform Added

Clubs will now be allowed to wear alternate and/or throwback uniforms four times a year. Previously clubs were only allowed three alternates in a season.

This past season, the Panthers wore their alternates in: Week 6 at home against the Falcons, with a black helmet, blue top and pants, with black socks; Week 10 in Germany against the Giants, with the black helmet, blue top, black pants and black socks; then again in Week 12 versus the Chiefs, with the clean all-black look.

A Christmas Day Triple Header

The NFL announced the league would continue to establish a presence on Christmas Day, with a triple-header this coming 2025 season. Christmas falls on a Thursday this year, meaning the broadcast will include the regular Thursday Night Football game, as well as two games earlier that day.

Christmas Day games first were held in 1971, but have been an annual occurrence since 2020. In the 50-plus year history of the holiday matchup, there have been nine teams who have played on December 25 at least four or more times. The Panthers will face four of those among their opponents this coming season, possibly increasing the chances to be tapped for a Christmas Day game. They are the Packers, Dolphins, Cowboys, and Cardinals.

Tush Push Tabled, As Well As Playoff Seeding

The move to ban the "tush-push," a play that expands on the quarterback sneak and made popular in recent years by the Philadelphia Eagles, has been tabled for now. A vote was expected this week, after the Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers both spearheaded a move to outlaw the play, deeming it unsafe for lineman, as well as a rugby play since the ball handler is pushed from behind by teammates.

Instead, the highly debated topic—those who oppose the ban say there hasn't been significant evidence provided to back up the concerns—will remain in the news for another few weeks. The vote has been tabled until May.

The Panthers did not attempt a quarterback sneak of any kind in 2024 with Bryce Young.

A proposal presented by the Detroit Lions to have playoff seeding be based on winning percentage as opposed to divisional standings has also been tabled for May. The Lions play in the NFC North, which had three of its four teams in the playoffs last season.

Other Notes

• Unsportsmanlike like calls have been expanded to include the "nose wipe." This is when a player runs his fingers under his nose in celebration. The Leagues executive vice president of football operations, Troy Vincent, told reporters the move had "gang connotations."
• Currently, first downs are awarded on defensive holding and illegal contact calls. That will continue to be the case, as a proposal to stop the automatic first down did not pass.
• Teams will now be allowed one video or phone call with up to five prospective unrestricted free agents during the two-day negotiation period. If teams and free agents agree to terms, clubs will now be able to go ahead and make travel arrangements during that two-day window as well. In the past, teams had to wait until the league year had officially opened. As of now, this will just be in play for one league year.
• If players want to play in the 2028 Olympics as flag-football participants, their home clubs will have to sign-off on the participation.
• Teams will now be allowed to designate two players for return at the roster cutdown to 53, as opposed to just one.