NFL will allow onside kicks any time, any score

There are no more restrictions on when a team can attempt an onside kick.

NFL considers allowing teams to declare onside kicks at any time, when leading or trailing

The NFL is considering allowing teams to onside kick any time they want, regardless of the score.

NFL rule changes 2026: Onside kicks anytime? League considers major updates

There is always a moment in the offseason when the focus shifts away from players and toward the game itself. This is one of those moments. The NFL Competition Committee has
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Fourth-and-13 alternative for onside kick will be discussed again this offseason

The new kickoff formation has made it even harder to recover onside kicks. Which makes it even harder for a team trailing by multiple scores to close the gap. Which is going to renew discussions about a potential alternative to the onside kick. Per ...

Explaining the NFL’s Five New Rule Changes Ahead of the 2026 Season

NFL owners have approved of five new rules changes ahead of the 2026 season, according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer —with three of them relating to the kickoff. The league introduced a new kickoff rule in 2024,