By Blessing 
Lions Face Disappointment as NFL Rejects Onside Kick Rule Change
The Detroit Lions were hoping for a rule change that could have worked in their favor for the 2025 season, but they’ve received some bad news—it’s not happening.
Every year, the NFL reviews and updates its rulebook in preparation for the upcoming season. While September might seem far off, the league is already preparing for it, with officials set to meet next week to discuss potential rule adjustments.
One proposed change, which NFL analyst Mike Payton believes would have suited Lions head coach Dan Campbell perfectly, has been shut down.
Onside Kick Rule: A Missed Opportunity for the Lions
In a March 27 article for A to Z Sports, Payton confirmed that the league has decided to leave the onside kick rule unchanged for 2025.
“The UFL recently changed to a rule that had Dan Campbell written all over it,” Payton wrote. “They got rid of the onside kick in favor of one 4th-and-12 attempt from the kicking team’s 28-yard line.”
This alternative would have given teams a better shot at keeping possession after scoring, something Campbell—who is known for his aggressive fourth-down decisions—could have taken full advantage of.
However, the NFL has already made the onside kick nearly obsolete by requiring teams to announce their intent before attempting it. The results haven’t been great either—Payton pointed out that out of 42 onside kick attempts in 2024, only three were successful.
“It’s just a useless strategy,” he noted. Unfortunately for the Lions, they attempted two onside kicks last season, failing both times.
Despite this, Detroit thrived on fourth-down conversions, a hallmark of Campbell’s coaching style. If the rule had been adjusted, the Lions might have had a greater chance to turn games in their favor.
Initially, there was hope for a change, with NBC Sports reporting that the NFL was considering modifications. But Troy Vincent, the league’s executive VP of football operations, shut down that idea during a March 26 media call.
“There was a sense of you earn everything, every snap is important, and some consider, you heard this from time to time, (the idea is too) gimmicky, this is not (for the) National Football League,” Vincent explained, per Payton. He also mentioned that teams weren’t interested in adopting a fourth-and-17 option—a proposal that has circulated in recent years.
NFL Considering Stricter Penalties for Taunting
While the onside kick rule remains untouched, the NFL is looking at changes in other areas—specifically, taunting and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
Vincent discussed the possibility of harsher consequences for “violent and obscene gestures” during the same media call.
This could impact players across the league, but it’s worth noting that Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams was among those penalized for such infractions last season. According to Payton, Williams was fined twice in 2024, racking up $45,022 for touchdown celebrations the league deemed excessive.
Vincent didn’t name specific players or provide details on how the NFL plans to educate teams about the updated guidelines. However, the league appears to be doubling down on its stance, possibly increasing penalty yardage or fine amounts for violations.
Final Thoughts
The Lions were hoping for a rule change that aligned with Campbell’s aggressive coaching style, but the NFL’s decision to leave the onside kick rule unchanged means they’ll have to continue playing within the current structure.
At the same time, stricter taunting penalties could be something Detroit—and the rest of the league—needs to prepare for in 2025.