Open thread: Are you still in favor of the new, dynamic NFL kickoff rules?

The NFL is trying to make the “dynamic” kickoff a permanent rule change. Are you in favor of that?

Last year, the NFL made a drastic change to the kickoff. In an effort to increase the amount of returns while keeping the play as safe as possible, they adopted a complicated new kickoff that had been trial run in the XFL.

They found some success, but not as much as they wanted. Kickoff returns went from 21.8% in 2023 to just 32.8%. By the end of the season, many teams were not bothering to risk their coverage teams giving up a big play, so the kickers just booted the ball through the end zone.

This year, the NFL competition committee is looking to make a small tweak that could incentivize more returns. A kickoff that is booted into the end zone could soon result in a touchback that places the ball at the 35-yard line. In other words, it’s going to make kicking teams want to avoid touchbacks at nearly all cost.

In addition to that, the NFL is looking to make the new kickoff rule permanent. When the “dynamic” kickoff was adopted last year, it was on a one-year trial basis. By this time next week, the NFL owners may vote to make it the kickoff moving forward.

Which leads us to today’s Question of the Day:

Are you still in favor of the new, dynamic kickoff?

My answer: I am. I think it’s safer, I think it’s interesting, and I like it when a modern sports league is not afraid to make a wholescale change to the game like this. Like just about everything in the world, sports needs updates and improvements.

And while I was disappointed by the high amount of touchbacks last year, I do think this small change could really improve return rates in 2025. A touchback to the 35-yard line is almost as bad as kicking it out of bounds, and I think teams will try their best to avoid that.

The only issue I have with the change overall is that it seems like one more rule change that is in favor of the offense. Almost certainly, field position is going to improve with these rule changes, and quite frankly, I don’t love it when teams only need a couple of first downs to get into scoring position. I think they need to do more to earn it.

Still, I think the play is innovative enough for teams to get creative and make the play exciting again.

What do you think about how the kickoff worked last year and how a new tweak could improve it in 2025? Vote in the poll below and share your thoughts in the comment section.