Like every aspect of NFL football, the kickoff has been changing in recent years with a tilt toward player safety.
Rewind to 2011 and the kickoff was moved from the 25 to the 30 yard line, which helped kickers get it into or through the end zone. And in 2016, touchbacks awarded to receiving teams moved from the 20 to the 25 yard line.
The result has been less kickoff returns. And less injuries to players running full speed downfield and colliding into one another. But there are still too many catastrophic injuries on the plays that come after scores, so the league has changed the rules again.
New NFL kickoff rule completely changes the look of the play
Starting in September, you’ll notice things look a lot differently when two teams trot out to start a game.
Now, the kicker will be alone and ready to kick from his own 35 yard line. His ten teammates will be lined up on the other side of midfield, at the opponent’s 40 yard line. Meanwhile, nine or ten of the receiving team’s players will be lined up five yards away, at their own 35 yard line. Finally, there will be one or two receiving players trying to field the ball.
A kick must land between the receiving team’s 20 and the goal line. If the ball comes up short of the 20, or goes out of bounds, it’s awarded at the receiving team’s 40. If the ball goes into the end zone, the receiving team starts at their own 30.
Here’s a visual:
Kicking off a new era: Owners just approved the NFL Hybrid Kickoff rule, per source.
After years of tweaks turned one of the game’s most exciting moments into a “dead, ceremonial play”, the league hopes this overhaul will yield what it wants: fewer injuries and more returns. pic.twitter.com/jHLAjZJm0z
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 26, 2024
The new rule was passed by the Competition Committee and voted on by the owners with a 29-3 majority in favor of the change. It’s in for one year, and then will be re-evaluated next offseason. It can then either become permanent or the Competition Committee could change the kickoff rule back to the way it was.
XFL kickoff rule helped inspire NFL’s rule change
How does the NFL know this new kickoff will be better than their current version?
Because the XFL already tried it out with success. There were less injuries, and many more returns, too. Which is great news for football fans because the kickoff had become basically an afterthought. If a team leads with only a few seconds on the clock, the game is basically over. Now, their opponent will have a higher likelihood of being able to make a special play happen.
To wit, XFL teams enjoyed anywhere from two to ten times as many returns per game, compared to NFL teams last year:
2023 Kickoff Returns per game – NFL and XFL Combined pic.twitter.com/I2byNGBwJG
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) March 26, 2024
And because the XFL already tried out the rule, we even have video of how the play looks. Keep in mind the XFL uses a free kick rather than a kickoff from a tee, like in the NFL.
The NFL just adopted the XFL Kickoff.
Safer for players.
More fun for fans. pic.twitter.com/myh5rvSeKf
— Coach Dan Casey (@CoachDanCasey) March 26, 2024
And here’s what it looks like when a team runs a reverse, as well as just a straight-line return for a touchdown:
Normally I hate Special Teams talk. But the new kickoff returns do intrigue me. The two firing squads will be lined up at the receiving team’s 35 and 40 yard lines, not the 30 and 35 yard lines like in these XFL videos. But still. Imagine De’Von Achane as the return man. pic.twitter.com/1IWth8EotS
— Chris Kouffman (@ckparrot) March 26, 2024
As you can see, there’s a lot of potential for this new rule to bring a ton of fun back to the kickoff.
And the Denver Broncos seem to be stoked about the changes. Who’s ready to see what Marvin Mims can do with the ball in his hand?
Looking at these new kickoff rules like … pic.twitter.com/7ZdmF5KZVc
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) March 26, 2024