The NFL is always looking into changes that can help evolve their league. Recently, NFL owners were looking into a hybrid kickoff model that could help the league do just that. Now, it looks like the owners are going to move forward with this proposal. Read below to find out more about this new kickoff rule.
New Kickoff Rule Approved
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the NFL owners have voted to approve a new kickoff rule for the 2024 season. This will see some interesting changes to the traditional kickoff format. Some of these changes can be credited to the XFL.
How These Kickoffs Will Work
Under this format, the kicker will still kickoff from their own 35-yard line. However, what changes is where the rest of the players will line up. Here, the kickoff team will line up 25 yards from the kickoff spot. Most times, this means they will be on the opponent’s 40-yard line.
This moves the receiving team back to around the 35-yard line. They can elect to have either one or two players back to receive the kickoff.
However, there is one important twist to this new kickoff rule. That twist is the players lined up cannot move until the kickoff returner catches the ball or the ball hits the ground.
More Kickoff Returns?
As a result, this could mean that we have more kickoff returns during the 2024 season. It could be a nice change of pace considering the current decline of kickoff returns. There have been fewer than two per game over the last 5-10 years. Who knows, maybe another talented special teams star replicating Devin Hester can emerge now.
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