The United Football League (UFL) announced on Tuesday that beginning with the 2026 season, field goals kicked from 60 yards or beyond will be valued at four points instead of the traditional three. This rule adjustment aims to reward kickers who successfully make exceptionally long field goals, potentially reshaping scoring strategies in football.
The rule change was confirmed by UFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino, who also revealed that the league is banning the “Tush Push” formation, signaling a move toward altering other longstanding elements of the game. The new four-point incentive could add a dynamic twist to game finishes and overtime situations.
Rationale Behind the Enhanced Scoring for Long Field Goals
While no field goals of 60 yards or more were completed during the last UFL season, the league recognizes the expanding range of professional kickers. Kickers such as Jake Bates, who converted three 60-plus-yard field goals for the Michigan Panthers in 2024 before joining the Detroit Lions, exemplify this growing capability. Meanwhile, J.J. Molson and Andre Szmyt also made successful attempts from 62 and 61 yards respectively in the same season.
Blandino pointed out that Brandon Aubrey, who launched his professional career in the UFL, has now made six 60-yard field goals across three seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. This upward trend in kicking distance is mirrored in the NFL, where kickers completed twelve field goals of 60 yards or more last season, up from just four successful attempts out of fifteen the year prior.
Athletes are getting stronger and faster,
Blandino said.
And kickers are shattering records that used to be impossible.
Potential Impact on Game Strategies and Football’s Evolution
The four-point field goal rule may encourage teams to take greater risks by attempting longer kicks, potentially altering late-game decision-making and end-of-game scenarios. Blandino emphasized that this adjustment is more than just a change in scoring; it reflects a broader effort to reward risk-taking and innovation on the field.
This isn’t just about kicking. It’s about rewarding players for taking risks,
Blandino remarked.
The coaches that actually go for it. The plays that make you jump around and hug a stranger. When the players evolve, the game has to respond. This is just the beginning.
The UFL’s ban on the “Tush Push” technique also signals a shift in how plays and formations will be regulated moving forward. As such, this combination of rule changes could influence how players, coaches, and fans experience the game in the coming years.
Given the trend of longer successful kicks and evolving athlete capabilities, the NFL and other leagues may closely monitor the UFL’s experimentation with these rule changes to consider their own adaptations.
We are here to move the game of football forward ⏭️
Introducing the 4-Point Field Goal
Oh, and one more thing…. pic.twitter.com/e5I9EZ5Hte
— United Football League (@TheUFL) February 24, 2026
