The annual NFL Owners meeting each year has slowly turned into a must watch event as there are often massive rule changes that are voted on. For example, this season the owners approved a massive change to the overtime rules that will impact all 32 teams.
However, one rule change did not pass and many fans can’t believe it.
BREAKING: NFL Owners Deny Rule Change; Fans Absolutely Irate
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter:
Detroit’s proposal to eliminate an automatic first down as a penalty imposed for defensive holding and illegal contact did not pass, despite the Lions’ pleas.
According to NFL Operations:
ARTICLE 6. DEFENSIVE HOLDING
It is a foul for defensive holding if:
- a defensive player tackles or holds any opponent other than a runner, except as permitted in Article 5.
- during a punt, field goal attempt, or Try-kick attempt, B1 grabs and pulls an offensive player out of the way, allowing B2 to shoot the gap (pull-and-shoot) in an attempt to block the kick, except if B1 is advancing toward the kicker.
Note: Any offensive player who pretends to possess the ball, and/or one to whom a teammate pretends to give the ball, may be tackled until he crosses the line of scrimmage between the tackles of a normal tight offensive line.
Penalty: For defensive holding: Loss of five yards and an automatic first down.
Fans immediately reacted to this news:
I hate the auto first down tbh
— McQuade Arnold – WISports (@mcquadewarnold) April 1, 2025
Auto first downs are dumb lol let the penalty yards add up for a first down
auto first downs make things look rigged
— Kraze (@wannabekraze) April 1, 2025
Of course not. Offense offense offense..
— The Gabaghoul 👻 (@GabaghoulMedia) April 1, 2025
Reason why it wasn’t passed? What’s the argument to keep it as-is?
— Michael Rodnick (@MJRodnick) April 1, 2025
It’s a ridiculous penalty make it 10 yards and call it a day. The automatic 1st sucks
— Rob 🇺🇸 🗽🐿️ (@rmny1976) April 1, 2025
