PrefaceThis 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 2013 NFL season.
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.
Any 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.
Because interconference 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.
At many places in the text there are approved rulings which serve to supplement and illustrate
the basic language of the rules. Each is headed by an abbreviation, followed by a number
(e.g. “A.R. 3.20”). The letter “A” in an approved ruling indicates the team that puts the ball in
play, and its opponents are designated by the letter “B.” Whenever a team is in possession of the
ball, it is the offense, and at such time its opponent is the defense. Yard lines and players are
indicated by numerals. Thus, for example: “A.R. 5.1 Third-and-10 on A30. During a run prior to
an intended pass by quarterback A1, defensive player B1 holds flanker A2 on the A45…”
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. It is not meant to connote illegality under any
public law or the rules or regulations of any other organization.
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. “Flagrant” in
these rules does not necessarily imply malice on the part of the fouling player or an intention to
injure an opponent.