- The NFL’s salary cap will increase to a league record $279 million in 2025-26, $24 million more than in the previous season.
- The increase in the cap and player salaries is attributed to record media rights deals.
- Several proposed rule changes for the coming season could affect ball placement, replay assists and overtime.
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The NFL announced a record salary cap at its annual Scouting Combine on Thursday, Feb. 27. Each team will spend $279 million on player salaries in 2025-26, a $24 million increase from last year.
How has the salary cap changed?
In a social media post, the NFL’s public relations department listed the salary cap numbers for every season since 1994, when the cap was first implemented and set at $34 million.
NFL teams were notified today that the 2025 salary cap has been set at $279,200,000 per club. Total projected player costs, including benefits, are slotted at $362,480,000. Here’s a look at the cap year-over-year. pic.twitter.com/riVb7MJ6Se
— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) February 27, 2025
There is one reason for the massive increase over the last 30 seasons. Media rights deals with TV networks and, recently, streaming partners have grown the NFL into a juggernaut.
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For instance, the latest deal with CBS, NBC, FOX, ESPN and Amazon is collectively worth almost $110 billion over 11 years. This latest deal runs through the 2033 season and it more than doubles the value of the league’s previous contract.
What rule changes are being proposed?
The NFL also announced several proposed rule changes at the Combine. Starting with the 2025-26 season, the league will use new technology to help the referees. Eighteen new “Hawk-eye” cameras will be placed in stadiums to help spot the ball and determine first downs. Sideline chain markers and crews will still be used.
The NFL’s replay assist system may also expand to add facemask penalties and more variations of roughing the passer to its list of reviewable plays.
The infamous “Tush Push” will also receive a close look from the competition committee. The Green Bay Packers have formally requested its outlawing, and depending on which teams you ask, they are not alone.
“I just feel like, you know, player safety and the health and safety of our players has to be at the top of our game, which it is.” Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said. “It’s just that play, to me, has always been or the way that the techniques that are used with that play to me, have been potentially contrary to the health and safety of the players.”
The league is also considering changing the regular season overtime rules, perhaps switching to the playoff format. That would push overtime to 15 minutes long instead of 10, and both teams would get at least one possession in OT regardless of whether the first team scores.
When will the changes take effect?
Before these possible changes go into effect, they must be approved by 24 of the NFL’s 32 owners. The votes could take place at the next NFL’s owners meeting which begins March 30 in Palm Beach, Florida.
While the NFL kicks off its Scouting Combine workouts in Indianapolis Thursday, there is no shortage of news concerning the league’s future. The latest involves a record new salary cap which is a $24 million dollar increase from last year.
The new cap is set at $279 million for the 2025-26 season and player salaries – especially those of star players – will increase because of it.
In a post on social media the NFL’s PR department listed the salary cap numbers for every season since 1994 when the cap was first implemented and set at, what seems now a paltry $34 million.
Why the massive increase over 30 years? One reason. Media rights deals with TV networks and now streaming partners have grown the NFL into a juggernaut.
For instance, the latest deal with CBS, NBC, FOX, ESPN and Amazon is collectively worth almost $110 Billion over 11 years. This latest deal runs through the 2033 season and it more than doubles the value of the league’s previous contract.
On the field, the league will use new technology to help the referees a little bit. 18 new Hawk-eye cameras will be placed in stadiums to help spot the ball and determine first
downs. Though the sideline chain markers will still be used as well.
Replay assist may also expand to add facemask penalties and more variations of roughing the passer to its list of reviewable plays.
The infamous “Tush Push” will also get a long look from the competition committee. The Green Bay Packers have formally requested it be outlawed and depending on who you ask, they are not alone.
“I just feel like you know, player safety and the health and safety of our players has to be at the top of our game, which it is. It’s just that play to me has always been or the way that the techniques that are used with that play to me, have been potentially contrary to the health and safety of the players.”
The league is also considering a possible change to overtime rules in the regular season, perhaps switching to the playoff format which would be 15 minutes long instead of 10 and where both teams get at least one possession in OT regardless of whether the first team scores.
Before they go into effect, all these possible changes have to be approved by 24 of the NFL’s 32 owners. The votes could take place at the next NFL’s owners meeting which is in Palm Beach, FL at the end of March.
For Straight Arrow News, I’m Chris Francis.
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