ORLANDO, Fla. — Kickoff returns are making a comeback in the NFL.
On Tuesday, team owners approved a new rule to make kickoff plays more important in the game.
“We believe this is a positive day for the NFL,” said Saints special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi, who played a key role in developing the new kickoff format.
The significant changes to special teams, influenced by XFL kickoff rules, will be introduced in the NFL in 2024. The rule will be tested for one season and then revisited in 2025.
NFL Competition Committee chairman Rich McKay stated that the new rule was approved with a 29-3 vote.
McKay mentioned, “There was some concern about the unknown. I believe this is the most significant rule change we’ve seen. We have seen the plays, and we can demonstrate how this could work out.”
McKay emphasized the urgency to vote on this rule before the draft due to its potential impact on team roster structures. Last season, there were 1,970 touchbacks on kickoffs, which could now turn into returns. Additionally, 92 fair catches are no longer permitted, and any caught ball in the field of play must be returned.
“The value of kickoff returners will increase significantly,” said Cowboys special teams coach John Fassel.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell anticipates the need for future adjustments but sees this as “a big improvement.”
For a standard kickoff, the ball will be kicked from the 35-yard line with 10 kick coverage players lined up at the opposing 40, with five on each side of the field.
The return team will have at least nine blockers lined up in the “set up zone” between the 30- and 35-yard line, with at least seven of those players touching the 35. There can be up to two returners allowed inside the 20.
Only the kicker and two returners are allowed to move until the ball hits the ground or is touched by a returner inside the 20.
Any kick that reaches the end zone in the air can be returned, or the receiving team can choose a touchback and possession at the 30. Additionally, any kick reaching the end zone in the air and going out of bounds or out of the end zone will also result in a touchback at the 30.
If a ball hits a returner or the ground before the end zone and goes into the end zone, a touchback will be at the 20, or the play could be returned.
“It’s a significant change that will be very different,” said Ravens coach John Harbaugh, a former special teams coordinator. “Is this the right move at this time? I don’t know. I think that’s yet to be decided.”
Under current rules, any touchback or if a returner calls for a fair catch results in the receiving team getting the ball at its 25.
The suggestion required 24 out of 32 votes to be accepted.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid expressed his support, saying, “I’m in favor of it. There are 2,000 wasted plays. Nobody wants to see that. It will bring excitement and newness.”
In other changes to the rules, the owners agreed to make two adjustments to instant replay. Replay can now check if the game clock expired before the snap, and can also fix a clear mistake when a passer was ruled down by contact or out of bounds before throwing the ball.
Previously, those plays were considered over at that spot but can now be changed with clear evidence. If the pass is caught or intercepted, it would be down at that spot with no advancement. If the pass was incomplete, that ruling would stand.
There were several other changes, such as allowing playoff teams to have unlimited returns from injured reserve if they have missed four games. Teams can also place up to two players on IR, the physically unable to perform list or non-football injury list before cutting the roster to 53 players and still have them eligible to return.
Owners also decided to push back the trade deadline by one week to the Tuesday following the end of Week 9 and will allow a team to elevate a “bona fide” quarterback from the practice squad an unlimited amount of times to be the emergency third quarterback.
SILVER AND BRADY
The process for Tom Brady’s attempt to buy a share of the Las Vegas Raiders is still pending.
During this week’s league meetings, owners did not vote on whether to approve Brady’s potential ownership stake. There have been concerns that Raiders owner Mark Davis is undervaluing the price for Brady.
“I wouldn’t call it a delay,” Goodell said. “We go through a thorough process. … I think it’s making progress.”
ORLANDO, Fla. — Kickoff returns are making a comeback in the NFL.