3 CFL rules NFL should adopt that could help SF 49ers

The CFL has a unique set of rules the NFL hasn’t adopted yet. Niner Noise breaks down three CFL rules which could help the SF 49ers.

The CFL and NFL have many similarities. However, there are a few differences the NFL could adopt from Canada, and those could ultimately help the SF 49ers if they do.

Every offseason, the NFL goes through their rules book and determines which ones they can improve on, remove, and potentially add. Though we didn’t necessarily see a huge rule change in terms of on-field play in 2020, the SF 49ers almost benefited from the added Wild Card team.

But as fans, we always want to see the game get better. We always have different ideas on how certain rules can make the NFL better or worse.

A major rule the NFL tried, which the CFL has, is using the coach’s challenge on pass-interference calls. If you recall, the 2018 NFC Championship game between the New Orleans Saints and LA Rams had a huge controversy surrounding it.

The NFL decided coaches could challenge PI calls and it went terribly. Danny Heifetz of The Ringer broke down how pass interference calls went (or didn’t).

Now, it’s not perfect in the CFL either. But they’ve always found ways to tweak it and have kept the rule going. Unlike the NFL where it was one and done.

But there are many other rules the CFL has which could easily be implemented into the NFL.

We’ll look at three rules that could help the SF 49ers, starting with waiving the “fair catch.”