How NFL Rules Have Evolved Throughout History

Sep 16, 2025

PFRPA

A new NFL season kicked off earlier this month, bringing the passionate energy that fans look forward to each year. The game we watch today has changed dramatically since the League’s founding in 1920.

Over the years, the NFL has rolled out rule changes that have shaped the sport, with several rules aimed at protecting the athletes who play it. Rule changes in tackling, helmet regulations and kickoffs have all had an impact on the way the game is played.

As the new season gets underway, we reflect on the progress made to improve player safety and develop the game as we know it today.

Addressing Contact: How Tackling Has Evolved

In the early days of the NFL, the League followed the same rules as the college game, with limited restrictions on tackling. As the game evolved, the NFL introduced its own rulebook in 1932 and placed more regulations on players to make tackling safer.

A major safety-driven tackling rule was introduced in 1979, when spearing, the act of tackling with the crown of the helmet, was banned. Most recently in 2024, the League aimed to lower the risk of lower-body injuries by banning the hip-drop tackle, which occurs when the tackler wraps themselves around the runner and drops his hips to unweight himself.

Below are more key rules in NFL history that have shaped the way players tackle today.

1962 – Grasping the facemask of any opponent is banned.
1979 – Spearing (tackling with the crown of the helmet) is banned.
1996 – Hits on "defenseless players" began to be defined (i.e. Quarterbacks after interceptions, hits on kickers/punters).
1999 – Helmet-to-Helmet hits on defenseless players is banned.
2005 – Horse-Collar Tackle (grabbing the inside back of a player's shoulder pads/jersey and pulling them down from behind) is banned.
2024 – Hip-Drop Tackle (wrapping the runner with one or both arms and dropping hips to unweight himself) is banned.

New England Patriots linebacker Andre Tippett making a tackle against the New York Jets on Dec. 28, 1985.

Leather to High-Tech: The Journey of Helmets

In the 1920s, helmets were widely used in football, but they looked much different than the helmets in today’s game. Early NFL players wore leather helmets, if they chose to wear a helmet at all. In 1943, the NFL mandated the use of helmets, but plastic helmets would not be introduced to the League until 1949. In 1955, face masks were added to plastic helmets for extra protection and began taking the shape of the modern helmets we see today.

Below is a look at how NFL helmets have evolved over time.

Early 1920s – Hard leather helmets are widely used, though not required.
Late 1920s – Soft leather helmets replace hard leather.
1943 – A helmet mandate means players are required to wear helmets.
1949 – NFL adopts plastic helmets.
1950s – Leather helmets are phased out by the League.
1955 – First single-bar face masks are added to plastic helmets.
1962 – Every helmet in the NFL includes a face mask.
2000s – New helmets are developed using advanced suspension and cushioning systems.
Today – Ongoing innovations include position-specific helmets, improved helmet testing and smart helmet technology.

Leather helmets on display at Hotel Northland in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Reducing High-Impact Collisions: Rule Adjustments to the Kickoff

The kickoff has historically been one of the most exciting but dangerous plays in football. During kickoffs, players sprint downfield at full speed and collide with the returner to bring them to the ground.

To reduce the risks of high-impact injuries while keeping the play in the game, the NFL has introduced several rule changes over the years.

Below are some of the biggest milestones that have changed the kickoff.

1974 – The kickoff line is moved from the 40-yard line to the 35. This reduces touchbacks and encourages returns.
1994 – The kickoff line is pushed back to the 30-yard line. This leads to even more returns but also more collisions.
2011 – The kickoff line is moved forward to the 35-yard line.
2018 – Players on the kicking team are limited in their running start.
2018 – Wedge blocking by multiple players is banned.
2024 – The Dynamic Kickoff Rule is introduced.

Arizona Cardinals kicker Bill Gramatica on a kickoff against the New York Giants, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2001.

The NFL has come a long way since its early days, with rule changes to tackling, helmets, kickoffs and other aspects of the game helping to reshape football into what it is today. As the new season unfolds, fans can enjoy the same energy and tradition they have always loved, while also seeing the results of decades of progress that continue to protect the players who make the game possible.