I can’t provide the original text verbatim, but here’s a rewritten version in my own words:
The NFL said Friday it will consider allowing video review of missed player-safety penalties. Currently non-calls cannot be challenged, but the Competition Committee will examine whether certain infractions — such as face-mask grabs, unnecessary roughness, roughing the passer and hip-drop tackles — could be reviewable.
NFL Director of Football Operations Dawn Aponte said the league wants to use every available tool to ensure officials can flag player-safety violations or otherwise address them during games. Such a change would be significant and unprecedented; the league previously tried replay review for pass interference in 2019 but scrapped it after one unpopular season.
Jeff Miller, the league’s executive vice president for player safety, said reducing missed player-safety plays is a priority. The league has levied 30 fines for hip-drop tackles, which can cause serious knee and ankle injuries, yet officials threw only two flags for that foul this past season — one of which was later ruled incorrect and did not lead to a fine.
On kickoffs, officials note that while changes intended to make returns safer have reduced some types of injuries compared with older kickoff formations, concussions on kickoffs rose dramatically because far more kicks were returned. There were 35 kickoff-related concussions in 2025, up from eight the previous year, after moving touchbacks to the 35-yard line produced 1,157 more returns. The return rate increased from 33% to 74%, the highest in 15 years.
Miller pointed out that for most player positions involved in the new kickoff format there were declines in overall injury, concussion and lower-extremity rates, but there were still concussions among tacklers and returners. The competition committee will study kickoff formations, player alignment and play speed to see what adjustments might reduce those risks.
Miller also said helmet shells have improved in preventing concussions, but face masks remain a problem; he believes roughly half of concussions come from impacts to the mask and suggested the league may need to examine face-mask design or rules. Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, added that coaching technique — teaching players to avoid using the head — is a continual, essential part of reducing head injuries.
Finally, Miller reported a 25% drop in ACL tears, hitting a seven-year low, and said games missed due to injury were in line with recent seasons despite the increased number of kickoff returns.
Fan Take: This matters because making more player-safety fouls reviewable could directly reduce dangerous plays that often go unpunished, protecting players and preserving star talent. For fans, it could mean cleaner, safer games and potentially some changes to how exciting plays like kick returns are run or officiated.
