The National Football League is a business, and that business is to make money. Anyone who thinks “competitive balance” is even in the topic of discussion, it only takes place after the money aspect of things gets cleared up. At the NFL League Meetings in Florida, a lot of new rules and details surrounding the 2024 season are made official.

The first shoe to drop with league rules was the passing of the new kickoff proposal. What will this look like? If you watched the XFL you’ve seen it. If not, here is a synopsis:

NEW NFL KICKOFF PROPOSAL.

*Kicking Team: The 10 players cannot move until the ball hits the ground or player in the landing zone or the end zone.

*Receiving Team: All players in the setup zone cannot move until the kick has hit the ground or a player in the landing zone or the… pic.twitter.com/aGwzWORSCr

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 20, 2024

Another rule which has been adjusted, and this was expected after Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews was injured in prime time vs. the Cincinnati Bengals last season, and that would be what has now been called the “hip drop tackle”. That play, is now a 15-yard penalty, an automatic first down, and a likely fine following.

This per Roger Goodell on why the league voted the way they did:

#NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on league outlawing hip drop tackle as a safety measure @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/v4B37IXVRC

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 26, 2024

A move which the Pittsburgh Steelers among other teams wanted was the change of the NFL’s trade deadline. What once was Week 7 has now been pushed back two weeks to Week 9, giving teams who suffer injuries a better opportunity to obtain players who might be able to help fill out their rosters.

Trade deadline moves to the Tuesday after Week 9. https://t.co/aYJ6RyyLNP

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 26, 2024

On top of rules which passed, and many more can be found HERE, but there were also changed to the way the NFL schedules games. In the past, the NFL only played games on Christmas Day if the holiday fell on a Saturday, Sunday or Monday. This year the holiday will be on a Wednesday, and the NFL announced they will have a double header on that day.

In addition to the Christmas Day games, the league announced Amazon will have a Wild Card Playoff game this year, and Peacock will have the Week 1 game with the Philadelphia Eagles, opponent not yet announced.

NFL EVP for Media Distribution Hans Schroeder announced:
— There will be a Christmas Day doubleheader, despite it being on a Wednesday. “We've seen really some unprecedented growth."
— Amazon will have a Wild Card playoff game this year.
— The #Eagles season opener in Brazil…

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 26, 2024

Speaking of scheduling, if you were wondering who will have the annual Hall of Fame game, that will be between the Chicago Bears and the Houston Texans. Both of those teams will not report to training camp ahead of the other 30 NFL teams who will have a standard 3-game preseason schedule.

The 2024 Hall of Fame Game: Bears vs. the Texans, Thursday, Aug. 1, 8 p.m. ET.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2024

Be sure to stay tuned for more rules and schedule changes as they come to light…