New faces on the Competition Committee are familiar faces

As soon as the confetti from the Super Bowl settles, the NFL offseason begins, as does the work of the influential NFL Competition Committee. With recent coaching and executive changes that involved a few of the 2025 members, the committee’s composition now includes some new, but old, faces.

Departing the committee are former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, former Bills head coach Sean McDermott, and former Dolphins GM Chris Grier. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and Broncos head coach Sean Payton, both of whom were previously on the committee, are taking two of the open spots. The committee now has 9 members, a decrease of one from last year’s 10.

Rich McKay, whom Falcons owner Arthur Blank moved as CEO of the team to head Blank’s larger sports and entertainment enterprise, remains on the committee, according to the statement released by the owner. McKay remains as one of the two chairs of the committee — along with Cowboys co-owner Stephen Jones — a position McKay has held for 29 years, which is half of time since the Committee was formed in 1968.

The NFL Competition Committee is made up of representatives from current ownership, executives, and coaches and serves as the primary driver of changes to NFL playing rules. Three of the representatives — Vrabel, 49ers GM John Lynch, and Bucs head coach Todd Bowles — are also former players. (Payton also played 3 games for the Bears in 1987 as a replacement player during the players’ strike.)

The Competition Committee has already started preliminary talks, with full meetings immediately following the Super Bowl and then in-person discussions during the Combine. Any proposed rule changes put forth by the committee will be voted upon during the offseason owners meetings, set to take place March 29 through April 1. The expansion of replay, examination of the dynamic kickoff, as well as other issues from the 2025 season will certainly be discussed by the committee during their offseason meetings.