NFL wants refs to focus on illegal contact fouls

Key Facts

12:26 PM UTC Kevin SeifertESPN Staff Writer Close ESPN.com national NFL writer ESPN.com NFC North reporter, 2008-2013 Covered Vikings for Minneapolis Star Tribune, 1999-2008 The NFL has asked its on-field officials to pay particular attention to illegal contact fouls during the 2022 season, a league spokesperson confirmed Monday.
The decrease prompted the NFL's competition committee to include illegal contact among its "points of clarification," formerly known as "points of emphasis," for the 2022 season.
League sources surveyed by ESPN were split on whether the wording of this year's illegal contact instructions will lead to a spike in flags, as occurred after the two previous points of emphasis for the foul.
The competition committee has clarified that contact to the helmet and below the knee area must be forcible, in recognition that some officials have thrown flags for minor contact in recent seasons.