1998 National Football League Season - Major Rule Changes

Major Rule Changes

  • The officiating positions of back judge and field judge were swapped to become more consistent with college and high school football. The field judge is now 20 yards deep, positioned on the same sideline as the line judge, while the back judge is 25 yards from the line of scrimmage near the center of the field.
  • Tinted visors on players' facemasks are banned except for medical need.
  • A defensive player can no longer flinch before the snap in an attempt to draw movement from an offensive linemen.
  • A team will be penalized immediately for having 12 players in a huddle even if the 12th player goes straight to the sideline as the huddle breaks.
  • The coin toss will be called before the coin itself is tossed, not while the coin is in the air.
    • This is a mid-season change resulting from a controversy during the Detroit Lions–Pittsburgh Steelers game on Thanksgiving Day, where conflicting calls were heard during the toss. The toss was made prior to a Sudden Death overtime period. The official making the call judged Detroit the winner while Pittsburgh argued they made the right call. If the Steelers were to be believed, the game could have had a different outcome. Pittsburgh's next trip to Detroit would also not be without significant controversy.

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