The Denver Broncos and All-Pro return specialist Marvin Mims should benefit in 2025 from the NFL’s rule modification regarding touchbacks. How can this benefit Denver and set up Bo Nix and the offense in prime field position?

Denver Broncos returner Marvin Mims in line for more return chances in 2025

One of the hot topics this week at the NFL Annual League meeting was the kickoff and touchback rule that was in place last season. Originally, the team receiving the ball would get the ball at the 30-yard line if it was kicked out of the back of the endzone.

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In Denver, there weren’t many opportunities for Marvin Mims to field a kick return because opposing teams chose to keep the ball out of his hands by kicking it out of the back of the endzone. In an effort to keep the return aspect in the game, the Broncos and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi were big advocates on touchbacks now moving the offense up to the 35-yard line in an effort to force teams to kick the ball into the field of play, allowing coverage units to get more opportunities to stop returners.

This has always been an important element of the game for most of us growing up, and for some of us younger guys, it afforded us the opportunity to watch players like Devin Hester or Joshua Cribbs break off a game-changing return on a kickoff. Mims did plenty of that as a punt returner for Denver last season, flipping field position and giving Bo Nix and the Broncos offense a chance to start with favorable field position.

Last year, nearly 32.8 percent of kickoffs were returned. This new proposal is aimed at hopefully increasing that number to around 70 percent in 2025. Teams with strong defenses may opt against lesser offenses to take the touchback and start out at the 35, which could end up being a strategic move for some teams.

With Mims’ electrifying return ability, that should be showcased more in 2025 for Denver’s kick return unit because of the amendment to the rule. Mims understanding of spacing in the open field, identifying where holes open up against return coverages have led to him being a First-Team All-Pro in two consecutive years, and he possesses a skillset that will make him dangerous in the kick return element that could give Nix and Denver’s offense a chance to start past the 30-yard line on a consistent basis, which should boost the offense in theory.

In the first two years of his NFL career, Mims has one kick return touchdown that came during his rookie season. In 2024, he only saw seven return opportunities for 194 yards, averaging 27.7 yards per return, with a 38-yard return being his biggest of the season.