Silver And Black Pride
Special teams coach Tom McMahon says there’s no shortage of interest in return man, specialist in Las Vegas
Can’t quite grasp the NFL’s most recent rule change when it comes to kickoffs?
You’re likely not alone.
But leave it to Las Vegas Raiders special teams boss Tom McMahon to break it down in layman’s terms. The long-time special teams coach provides neat context on the league moving the dead ball spot on touchbacks to the 35-yard line.
“I think the biggest change is last year there were 2,800 kickoffs and 2,000 or more touchbacks. So, there’s 900 returns or about 850,” McMahon began when asked about the biggest change on special teams that’ll affect the Raiders after the team’s mandatory minicamp session this past Tuesday. “I think that number is going to go to 2,200 kickoffs and maybe 600 touchbacks, which is high in my opinion. I don’t think anybody’s going to give up the 35-yard line. Last year, the average drive start was the 30, and it ranged from the 31 down to about the 28.5.
“So, it’s going to be hard as coaches to say, hey, let’s just give them the ball at the 35, when a year ago the drive start average was the 30. So, I think that’s the biggest thing that’s going to change with that new touchback rule.”
Okay, that got a bit technical, didn’t it? But you get the basic gist: It’s hard to see NFL teams willing to yield the 35-yard line as the starting point for the opposing offense. Because of that, McMahon (who has been the Silver & Black special teams boss since 2022) highlighted the guaranteed touches return men are potentially going to see in 2025.
“I think that the biggest thing is, for me, I look at it this way, the returner in this league now, especially if they’re your kick returner and punt returner, they’re the only player in the league that’s guaranteed 130 touches before the season starts,” McMahon said. “It’s never been like that. Never.”
Special teams work is often the easiest way of carving out a roster spot when it comes to the final 53 or even practice squad considerations, and the potential of guaranteed touches is creating renewed interest and vigor. For McMahon and the Raiders, there’s apparently no shortage in players wanting their chance at not only claiming a return job — on kickoffs and punts — but landing a gig on coverage units such as gunner on punts.
“Oh, yeah, everybody. Everybody wants to be the returner. Everybody wants to cover kicks,” McMahon noted. “Because production is, and it should be, where you make the money in this league.”
Who exactly fields the return opportunities — kickoff and punt — will be figured as the Raiders continues it offseason venture. Las Vegas reconvenes for training camp in mid-July but it’s encouraging to hear that interest in the return game is heightened.
There are a number of options...
