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Prior to last season, kickoffs in the NFL had become stagnant. It was nearly always a touchdback, and there was significant talk of getting rid of kickoffs.
The NFL made huge changes to the kickoff for the 2024 season, with mixed results and reception. Now, the league is considering making even more changes to the kickoff after just one year.
The new kickoff rules moved the kick to the 35, moved the players from both teams further down the field, and stopped players from moving until the kick was touched in a designated “landing zone”. kicks that were either short or long of the landing zone were penalized. This video will explain the rules well.
The purpose of the new rules were two-fold. First, the league wanted more kickoffs actually in play, instead of touchbacks. And, when kickoffs were in play, they wanted less injuries due to the high-speed nature of the collisions on kickoffs.
Both of those objectives were accomplished, as injuries on kickoffs were down and returns were up. But, the NFL wants to see even more returns and less touchbacks, and may take further action. Here’s Pro Football Talk with more.
NFL Competition Committee chairman and Falcons CEO Rich McKay told reporters on Sunday that the group is considering changes that they hope would lead to even more returns. McKay said the committee will discuss giving teams possession at the 35-yard-line rather than the 30-yard-line as well as kickoffs being launched from five yards further back. Kickers now deliver kickoffs from their own 30-yard-line.
Any changes would require the approval of 24 teams and McKay said he thinks any proposals would be ready for the league meetings in March.
A lot of teams would just kick the ball through the end zone for a touchback, even though it came all the way out to the 30-yard line. But, the extra five yards will make a difference. The 35-would certainly be considered good field position, and your kick coverage team should be able to make a tackle before the 35.
Will this pass? Who knows. But, this would definitely increase the number of kickoffs in the NFL.
The post NFL Could Be Changing Kickoff Rules Once Again To Encourage More Returns appeared first on BroBible.
