PHOENIX — The NFL is set to convene in Phoenix this week for its annual league meeting.
On the agenda are discussions regarding a new ownership succession plan for the Raiders, the return of the Super Bowl to Las Vegas, and several new rule changes.
Here’s what owners will be pondering in Phoenix.
Super Bowl Returns to Las Vegas
The NFL seems eager to return to Las Vegas for the next Super Bowl. After hosting its first major event in 2024, the city proved successful in terms of hospitality, infrastructure, entertainment, and fan engagement, leading officials to seek another opportunity as soon as possible.
This week, the league is anticipated to vote on bringing the Super Bowl back to Las Vegas in 2029. Leaders from the league and Las Vegas have ironed out the necessary details over recent months, suggesting that the agreement is nearly finalized, according to officials.
Currently, the next two Super Bowls are slated to take place at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium after next season or in 2027, and at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2028.
It appears nearly certain that Las Vegas will join the roster of host cities by next week.
New Raiders Ownership Succession Plan
According to league regulations, all 32 NFL teams must maintain an Ownership Succession Plan at all times, which requires approval from fellow team owners.
Mark Davis of the Raiders is contemplating changes to his succession plan that have been in the pipeline for several years. The updated plan has Egon Durban, co-CEO of Silver Lake, agreeing to be the first in line to purchase the team if Davis either chooses to sell or in the event of his passing.
Sources indicate that Davis doesn’t plan on selling the team anytime soon; he merely wants to have a strategy in place should he make that decision or something unforeseen occurs.
Durban previously acquired a 7.5 percent stake in the Raiders in 2024, part of a deal where Davis sold 15 percent to Durban and Michael Meldman of Discoveryland Inc.
This was alongside Davis selling an additional 5 percent of the team to Tom Brady, who now serves as the Raiders’ head of football operations, 5 percent to Tom Wagner of Knighthead Capital Management, and a minimal stake to Raiders Hall of Famer Richard Seymour.
It’s evident that Durban, with a net worth of $2.5 billion, has plans to eventually take ownership of the team.
There’s Nothing New About Tush Push
This year’s discussions contrast with last year’s as the league is not tackling the controversial “tush push” play, which was under scrutiny for its fairness and feasibility.
Nevertheless, it’s likely this topic will resurface in future discussions.
Rich McKay, CEO of the Falcons and chair of the NFL Competition Committee, mentioned, “I don’t know if the conversation is really concluded. There are still concerns about the entire push aspect…” He emphasized that there was no proposal last year nor the year before regarding the tush push. “Isn’t the number of such plays decreasing? The success rate of traditional sneaks is surpassing that of tush pushes. So, I think there’s less focus on those success rates now.”
Recover Onside Kick
With the NFL’s newly established dynamic kickoff rules, the onside kick’s significance has been somewhat diminished. Presently, only the trailing team can attempt an onside kick.
A new proposal suggests that any team could try for an onside kick at any stage of the game, but this will require notifying officials and the opposing team beforehand due to changes in line-ups.
Additionally, the league is contemplating proposals that would alter how receiving teams arrange their players for kickoffs.
Currently, at least six players need to align with their front feet on the receiving team’s inhibition line; the new proposal would permit only five players in this position.
This modification could enhance kickoff returns while keeping players safer.
“Our findings indicate that those in the setup zone carry minimal risk of injury, both lower extremity and concussion,” McKay stated. “Initially, we aimed to reduce their numbers, but now we’re considering a broader approach. We believe this shift could generate more offensive plays from this formation. Coaches are supportive of this, viewing it positively.”
