After three days of discussion, NFL owners overwhelmingly approved a new kickoff rule reminiscent of what we’ve seen in the XFL essentially bringing back a special teams play that was in large part eliminated from the game several seasons ago.
According to ESPN, the vote passed 29-3 with just 24 of the 32 total owners needed for the rule to be approved.
“We feel this is a great day for the NFL,” New Orleans Saints special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi, who worked closely on the proposal, said Tuesday. “We’ve taken a play that’s essentially been dying over the course of the last few years in our opinion, and we revived it.”
In 2011, the NFL approved for kickoffs to be moved up five yards from the 30-yard line to the 35 while in 2016 the touchback line was moved from the 20-yard line to the 25. These sequence of changes for the most part eliminated any kind of return as kickers would either blast the kick out of the back of the opposing end zone or the return specialist opted for the extra five yards on the touchback. The idea behind these initial changes was designed to cut down on injuries, specifically concussions caused by defending players running down the field full speed and colliding with returners.
The new kickoff rule will aim to bring back returns and continue to cut down on full-speed tackles by changing where teams line up during the kick and when opposing teams can begin engaging each other.
During the 2024 season, kickers will continue to kick from the 35-yard line, but the other 10 players on the kickoff team will line up at the receiving team’s 40-yard line. At least nine members of the return team will line up in a “setup zone” between the 35- and 30-yard lines. Up to two returners can line up in a “landing zone” between the goal line and the 20-yard line.
No one other than the kicker and returner(s) can move until the ball hits the ground or hits a player inside the landing zone. Touchbacks will be marked at the 30-yard line, and no fair catches will be allowed. In the event a team wants to attempt an onside kick, it will have to inform officials of its intent and would then be allowed to use the NFL’s traditional formation. No surprise onside kicks will be allowed.
Despite the similarities to the XFL rule, the new NFL kickoff rule will be slightly different. Players would line up slightly further downfield resulting in a 90 percent kickoff return rate. NFL special teams coaches who helped modify the new rule for the upcoming NFL season are hoping and believe the NFL version of the rule will yield an 80 percent return rate.
