NFL Announces Extra Point Will Be Pushed Back to 15-Yard Line

NFL owners voted Tuesday to approve sweeping changes to the league's extra-point rules, which could cause a widespread increase in two-point conversion attempts beginning in 2015.

Dean Blandino, the NFL's vice president of officiating, announced the change. Under the new rule, teams can choose to attempt a standard extra point from the 15-yard line or go for two points from the 2-yard line. Defenses can now record a safety in the event of a turnover, similar to college football's rule.   

The league's competition committee originally discussed the rule change in March. The Oakland Raiders and Washington voted against it, Bob Glauber of Newsday reported at the time, but all other franchises were in favor. League rules mandate 24 of the 32 owners vote "yes" on a proposal for it to pass. 

Changing the extra-point rule is largely about increasing the excitement in what had become an almost unnecessary play. In 2014, kickers converted 99.3 percent of their extra-point attempts. The point had become so automatic that the league was at one point considering the play's abolition. 

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Texans GM Rick Smith of competition committee says the NFL acted because the PAT had become "a ceremonial play."

— Bart Hubbuch (@BartHubbuch) May 19, 2015"

This rule change should in theory incentivize coaches to attempt two-point conversions more often. 

Even under the old rules, statistical analysis has long supported coaches being more aggressive with situational two-point tries. Last season, there were only 59 two-point attempts. Teams made them at roughly a 47.5 percent clip, which makes them a losing proposition overall—teams would have to convert more than 50 percent of the time for it to work out on average—but that is an overcited statistic.

Teams most often went for two when they had no other choice. No team attempted more than five two-point conversions, and eight teams eschewed them altogether. More regular use of the conversions could lead to teams installing specific packages or special plays solely for two-point chances. Some have already theorized that's why the Philadelphia Eagles signed Tim Tebow.

Perhaps the change will merely make having a competent kicker more important. Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he would support the new rule for that reason. 

"I don't care about that one way or the other," Harbaugh told reporters. "I'm OK with it. We have a good kicker. If they want to move it back to the 15 [yard line], it would be an advantage for us."

The Ravens' kicker, Justin Tucker commented on the news, via the Ravens official website:

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I think the idea is to add excitement to every single play, but really what it does is make every kicker’s job a little bit harder.

We play in the AFC North and we play almost every single game outside. This is a tough division to play football in in general. It takes maybe a little bit more mental toughness than playing in a dome 10 games a year.

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According to Glauber, kickers converted 94.3 percent of their extra-point attempts from the 15 last preseason. If that percentage carries over, it's unlikely we'll see much of a change in how teams react in most situations following a touchdown.

That said, the NFL just injected some new life into its most mundane play. Plan your bathroom breaks during football season accordingly.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.