The excitement of NFL kickoff returns is reportedly set to make a comeback in 2024.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on SportsCenter that the proposed rule changes to kickoffs appear to be moving forward during the league meetings this week:
“League owners are going to meet in Orlando over the next few days voting on this, likely on Tuesday. There’s some momentum for this. Special Teams coordinators around the league have gotten together, tried to brainstorm the best idea they can, and this is the proposal they brought forth. Vice President Troy Vincent with the league said that he’s positive, or feels pretty good, that there’s enough momentum for this to get cleared because the league is trying to find a sweet spot between lessening the injury rate but also just bringing some suspense back.”
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported on Wednesday that the league’s competition committee proposed a revamped kickoff that resembles the alignment used by the XFL in 2020 and 2023, which would be “the most significant on-field rule change for the NFL in years.”
The rule change would see kickers continue to kickoff from the 35-yard line while their other 10 teammates move up to the receiving team’s 40-yard line. At least nine members of the return team would be moved to the “setup zone” between the 35- and 30-yard line, while up to two returners can line up in the “landing zone” between the goal line and 20-yard line.
No players can move besides the kicker and returners until the kick hits the ground or one of the players in the landing zone, so this would significantly reduce high-speed collisions as part of the NFL’s ongoing effort to minimize concussions. Fowler added that it would also help facilitate longer returns, which would surely excite fans after the lack of kickoff returns in recent seasons.
“Last year it was pretty brutal. I think there were about 13,000 yards total in return yards compared to like it used to be 40,000-something a year in the early 2010s,” Fowler said. “They’re trying to spice that up. They knew with this last rule it was going to be a one-year experiment. Now they have to do something that’s more firm and long-standing.”
2024-03-24 13:43:33
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