The word “flagrant,” when used here to describe an action by a player, is meant to indicate that the degree of a violation of the rules-usually a personal foul or unnecessary roughness-is extremely objectionable, conspicuous, unnecessary, avoidable, or gratuitous. It is not meant to connote illegality under any public law or the rules or regulations of any other organization. Where the word “illegal” appears in this rule book, it is an institutional term of art pertaining strictly to actions that violate NFL playing rules.

Member clubs of the League may amend the rules from time to time, pursuant to the applicable voting procedures of the NFL Constitution and Bylaws.Īny intra-League dispute or call for interpretation in connection with these rules will be decided by the Commissioner of the League, whose ruling will be final.īecause inter-conference games are played throughout the preseason, regular season, and postseason in the NFL, all rules contained in this book apply uniformly to both the American and National Football Conferences. This edition of the Official Playing Rules of the National Football League contains all current rules governing the playing of professional football that are in effect for the 2022 NFL season. 16-1-4 | Modified overtime in postseason games to require that each team has the opportunity to possess the ball.6-1-3 | Made permanent the free kick formation change implemented during the 2021 season.Download a printable PDF of the 2022 NFL Rulebook.

Another word for running from the law