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The NFL will not be getting rid of automatic first downs on defensive holding and illegal contact penalties for the 2025 season.<\/p>\n
One rule proposal that the Detroit Lions made this year at the NFL owners meetings was denied by vote on Tuesday and will not pass. Detroit offered a rule change to stop automatic first downs from being awarded on defensive holding and illegal contact penalties, but it did not get the votes necessary to pass.<\/p>\n
Prior to the vote, Lions coach Dan Campbell made his argument for the rule change.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally, I felt like where those are most glaring for us\u2014we had a number of these second-and-16, second-and-20, second-and-10, second-and-10, second-and-9, third-and-8\u2014those, specifically,\u201d Campbell said. \u201cForget the first downs. Our rule for first downs, it\u2019s irrelevant. It\u2019d be first-and-5 now instead of 5 yards (and a first down)\u2014that\u2019s actually better offensively, by the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s more when you\u2019re in those (situations) that i just mentioned, the second-and-long, third (down), and the contact happens 6 yards down the field, it\u2019s on a scramble\u2014which four of those were\u2014you\u2019re like, \u2018Ugh. Man, that seems unfair. Right?\u2019 Why not just a 5-yard penalty, and let\u2019s replay the down?<\/p>\n
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\u201cSo that was really, for me, I know that\u2019s where it came up. And it\u2019s really that little bit of the area, those longer yardage situations where\u2014and I\u2019m not talking about the blatant, man, this is a clear hold. He\u2019s 10 yards downfield, but we had a number of these that really were like that. Contact happens plays 6 yards down the field and it\u2019s second-and-12. It just, man, that doesn\u2019t seem right.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bills general manager Brandon Beane was one of the people at the owners meetings publicly against the Lions\u2019 rule change:<\/p>\n
\nBrandon Beane said he's not in favor of eliminating an automatic first down for defensive holding or illegal contact. Said there are unintended consequences, including coaches instructing defenders to hold in 3rd and long situations.<\/p>\n
— Sal Capaccio \ud83c\udfc8 (@SalSports) March 30, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n