It seemed Vic Fangio was eager for someone to catch on.

“You know what you guys have missed?” said the Philadelphia Eagles’ veteran defensive coordinator — somewhat conspiratorially — in his press conference this week. “These kicking balls that they changed this year have drastically changed the kicking game, field goals in particular.”

Advertisement

Fangio was referring to an unheralded rule change made by the NFL this offseason that allows kickers, punters and long snappers to keep footballs with them throughout the practice week, and use those they prefer in the game.

Previously, game officials presented new footballs to special teams units 30 minutes to an hour before kickoff and ball boys frantically went to work on the leather to make the football friendlier to kick and grip for the specialists.

“It’s drastically changed the game, the kicking game and the field goal,” said Fangio, who compared the rule change to evolving baseball eras and suggested an asterisk be applied to certain kicks. “Guys have longer range than they used to.”

Chase McLaughlin drills a 65-YARD FG at the end of the half 💥 PHIvsTB on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXnxV pic.twitter.com/jP3GPQKJOO — NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2025

Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin had hit a 65-yard field goal in a Week 4 loss to the Eagles a few days before Fangio’s comments.