The NFL approved four rule changes this offseason and modified its suspension policy to emphasize player safety, all of which will take effect in 2026.The most notable change is the new “three-strike” suspension rule that the NFL and NFL Players Association announced in August. Players who commit three violations in any of the following categories will now be suspended for one game: hip drop tackle, horse collar tackle, launching, hit on a defenseless player and blindside block.The suspension goes into effect only if all three violations are in a single category (ex: three horse collar tackles result in a suspension, but two horse collar tackles and a hip drop tackle do not). A key detail is that violations in the listed categories carry over to subsequent seasons. All players will begin 2026 with a clean slate.The new policy also gives players a chance to be reimbursed for the fines they incur for rule violations. Players who commit only one violation in the five specified categories will receive 50 percent of their fine back at the end of a season. Single offenses to most other on-field rules result in a 100 percent refund at the end of the season.“This approach distinguishes between isolated mistakes and repeated conduct that jeopardizes the health and safety of players,” the joint NFL and NFLPA statement said.What did we learn at the NFL special league meetings?Jonathan Jones and Johnny SweetThree of the four other rule changes team owners approved at league meetings in March relate to kickoffs.First, owners eliminated the previous requirement that a team had to be trailing to attempt an onside kick. The new rule allows either team to attempt an onside kick at any point in the game, although it is still required that the team declare its intention to try one.Another new kickoff rule eliminates the kicking team’s incentive to intentionally kick the ball out of bounds when kicking off from the 50-yard line. That typically happens when there’s a personal foul on a team’s scoring play and the 15 yards are tacked onto the ensuing kickoff.Previously, a touchback when kicked from the 50-yard line gave the opponent the ball at the 30-yard line, while a kick out of bounds placed the ball 25 yards from the spot of the kick — or the 25-yard line. That led to teams simply kicking out of bounds to take advantage. Now, touchbacks on kickoffs from midfield will be placed at the 20-yard line.The final kickoff adjustment modifies alignment requirements for receiving team players in the setup zone. A minimum of five players, instead of six, must be lined up with their front foot on the receiving team’s restraining line.Lastly, owners also approved a change to allow league personnel to consult with on-field officials regarding flagrant football acts and non-football acts that aren’t called on the field and could lead to disqualification.