The NFL Competition Committee is proposing a rule to radically change the nature of kickoffs during the 2024 season.
Regarded as one of the most exciting plays in the game, the kickoff has a storied place in football: Many great players have made their mark as return specialists. And, the onside kick has produced drama over the years. Hence, kickoffs are popular with fans.
However, due to frequent, high-speed collisions, kickoff plays have resulted in a significant number of injuries.
The NFL owners will have to weigh these competing considerations when they vote on whether to adopt the significant change proposed by the Competition Committee. The proposed change will only go into effect if approved by at least 24 of the league’s 32 team owners. The owners will make the decision at the Annual League Meeting, which takes place March 24-27, 2024.
The discussion below focuses first on the relevant circumstances the owners will consider in assessing whether to change the way kickoffs are structured, including the features and history that make the kickoff play exciting and popular, as well as the reality that injuries occur with worrisome frequency on kickoffs.
The discussion will then turn to the specific details of the changes to kickoffs proposed by the Competition Committee.
One of the Most Exciting Plays in Football
The kickoff is widely regarded as one of the “most exciting plays” in the sport of football. As observed in a 2023 op-ed in the New York Times:
“[Kickoffs] have … produced many of the N.F.L.’s most exciting moments: the so-called Music City Miracle in 2000; Desmond Howard’s 99-yard touchdown return in Super Bowl XXXI, which helped earn him the honor of the game’s most valuable player; Gale Sayers, seemingly every time he touched the ball.”
Greatest NFL Return Specialists
Legendary football players left lasting impressions with their kickoff returns. Four of the most historically prominent return specialists are:
Billy “White Shoes” Johnson
In an article concerning the greatest NFL kick/punt returners, GiveMeSport (GMS) describes Billy Johnson’s impressive career:
“Billy ‘White Shoes’ Johnson may be most famous for his distinctive touchdown celebrations, but his true legacy lies in his remarkable skill at reaching the end zone after fielding a kick.
“In addition to his eye-catching dance moves, Johnson recorded six punt return touchdowns and two kick return scores during his 14-year NFL career, showcasing his ability to turn special teams plays into game-changing moments.
“His knack for finding the end zone wasn’t just about flair; it was a testament to his exceptional speed, agility, and vision on the field. Johnson led the league in punt return yards per attempt twice with the Houston Oilers (now the Tennessee Titans) in 1975 and 1977, solidifying his reputation as one of the most dangerous returners in the league during his era.”
Johnson was a three-time Pro Bowl selection. He was also named to the NFL’s All-Decade Teams for the 1970s and 1980s.
He garnered recognition for his celebratory end zone dances, which were ground-breaking at the time:
Billy "White Shoes" Johnson elevated the touchdown celebration to a goddamn American art form. pic.twitter.com/5NRPBMckBr
— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) January 19, 2023
Gayle Sayers
The late, great Gayle Sayers was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977.
GMS describes Sayers’ prowess as a return specialist:
“Gale Sayers, primarily celebrated as a legendary running back for the Chicago Bears, revealed his exceptional versatility as an outstanding return specialist as well.
“His remarkable career includes a pivotal moment where he set the NFL record with six extraordinary touchdowns in a single game in 1965, with two of those unforgettable scores coming from electrifying kickoff returns, showcasing Sayers’ unmatched speed and agility.
“These remarkable plays solidified his place in NFL history and contributed to the Chicago Bears’ overall legacy. Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977, Sayers’ impact on the game extends beyond his statistics as his career was sadly cut short due to knee injuries.
“In just seven seasons, which was really only five as he only appeared in two games in each of his final two years, Sayers recorded eight return touchdowns, six from kickoffs and two from punts.”
To view highlights of Sayers’ kickoff returns in the NFL, click here.
Deion “Prime Time” Sanders
Now known as Coach Prime, back in the day, Deion Sanders was dubbed “Prime Time” (and also “Neon Deion“), largely as a result of his spectacular kickoff and punt returns, as well as pick-sixes.
Per GMS:
“While Deion Sanders is celebrated as one of the most exceptional cornerbacks in NFL history, he also demonstrated his versatility as an outstanding returner. His impact on the game extended well beyond defense, as he recorded nine career return touchdowns, showcasing his prowess on kickoff and punt returns.
“One of the most memorable moments was on September 21, 1998, when Sanders propelled his Dallas Cowboys to victory against the New York Giants in a Monday Night Football performance for the ages.
“‘Prime Time’ orchestrated a remarkable display by scoring the game’s first touchdown with a 59-yard punt return, secured the last touchdown on a 71-yard interception return, and contributed in the middle with a 55-yard reception on offense. Sanders’ ability to impact the game in multiple facets solidified his status as one of the most dynamic players in NFL history.”
Deion Sanders, who also played Major League Baseball from 1989-2001, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
33 years ago today, @DeionSanders returned a 68 yard punt for a touchdown in his VERY FIRST NFL regular season game 🤩
Primetime. pic.twitter.com/RH3HP7ac5v
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) September 10, 2022
Devin Hester
Devin Hester is the first-ever person to make it into the Hall of Fame as a return specialist.
Hester is “widely considered to be the greatest return specialist of all time.”
Per GMS:
“Devin Hester, the human highlight reel of kick and punt returns, brought unparalleled excitement to the NFL for a decade.
“Known for his electrifying speed and jaw-dropping agility, his record-setting career includes the impressive title of holding the most punt return touchdowns (14) and combined kick/punt return touchdowns (20) in NFL history.
“One of his most iconic moments came in Super Bowl 41 with the Chicago Bears when he returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts, making him the first in Super Bowl history to do so.
“Beyond the stats, Hester’s ability to single-handedly change the momentum of a game made him a fan favorite and a constant threat every time he lined up to return a kick. Whether in the regular season or on the grandest stage of the Super Bowl, Hester was a game-changer who left an indelible mark on the art of kick and punt returns.”
Hester was a first-team All-American at the University of Miami, and in the NFL he was named first-team All-Pro on three occasions.
𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟕
Devin Hester returns the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI for a touchdown! pic.twitter.com/zbrb1nUWv4
— This Day in Chicago Sports (@ChiSportsDay) February 4, 2024
Onside Kicks
Onside kicks are rare, but exciting. As observed in the Washington Post, “The onside kick long has been one of the NFL’s more captivating plays.”
“Although it has a slight chance of recovery – players, coaches, and fans get ramped up for an onside kick opportunity.”
The changes to kickoffs proposed by the Competition Committee would, if adopted, significantly alter the role of onside kicks in the NFL.
Kickoff-Related Injuries
The frequency of injuries during kickoff plays is the reason underlying proposed changes to the manner in which kickoffs occur.
As reported by Yahoo Sports:
“[A] disproportionate percentage of concussions and other serious injuries occur as a result of high-speed collisions during [kickoff] plays….
“‘One of the most thrilling plays in football going the way of leather helmets would be “a positive change,’ insists Concussion Legacy Foundation CEO Chris Nowinski, one of the nation’s leading voices on sports-related brain trauma. Nowinski, a former Harvard defensive tackle, argues that de-emphasizing or ditching the kickoff is the best way to make football safer without sacrificing the sport’s essence.
“’Kickoffs, by far, are the most dangerous play for the brain,’ Nowinski told Yahoo Sports. ‘You have players making 30- or 40-yard sprints and colliding at full speed. The players are moving faster than your standard play and the hits can come from more directions.’”
Green Bay Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy noted:
“Kickoffs represent only 6% of the overall plays, but 14% of the concussions. Also, 20% of concussions and ACL tears occur on punts and kickoffs.”
Proposal to Radically Change NFL Kickoffs
NBC’s San Diego affiliate reports: “The NFL competition committee is proposing … a radical change to kickoffs [designed] to add more returns without compromising safety.”
USA Today reports:
“In order to cut down on return-related injuries but continue to allow teams a competitive edge in special teams, 2024 may be the backdrop to a significant change in how kickoffs operate.
“This reform, slated for a one-year pilot program next fall, would add several new wrinkles to free kicks, ideally allowing for greater returns while rewarding kickers for their accuracy. While the ball would still be placed at the kicking team’s 35-yard line, everyone but the kicker would line up 25 yards upfield at the receiving team’s 40. Five yards away from them would be the first line of blocking defense ahead of a maximum of two returners — a line that can’t go deeper than the 30-yard line.”
The setup envisioned by the Competition Committee looks like this:
USA Today elaborates further:
“There’s more than just a funky formation that leaves less room for defenders to build up momentum before crashing into returners. The space from the receiving team’s 20-yard line to the goal line is the landing zone. No one from the kicking team can cross the 40 until the ball either lands or is fielded there.”
“There are no fair catches. If the ball fails to make it to the landing zone, the receiving team takes over at its own 40-yard line. If the ball flies into the end zone, the receiving team takes over at the 35. If the ball hits the landing zone on the fly, then rolls into the end zone and is downed, the receiving team takes over at its 20….
“If the wind knocks the ball off the tee twice, a kicker can opt to hold it in place with a kicking stick — the tripod kickers use in practice — rather than making a teammate hold the ball on the tee.
“Onside kicks are still allowed, but have to be declared before the kickoff. From there, normal onside kick rules would apply (and, in honesty, be very lame and probably reconsidered after 2024’s proposed trial period).”
Thus, if adopted, the rule change would eliminate surprise onside kicks.
NFL Insider Ari Meirov tweeted out news of the proposed kickoff changes:
NEW NFL KICKOFF PROPOSAL.
*Kicking Team: The 10 players cannot move until the ball hits the ground or player in the landing zone or the end zone.
*Receiving Team: All players in the setup zone cannot move until the kick has hit the ground or a player in the landing zone or the… pic.twitter.com/aGwzWORSCr
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 20, 2024
Per NBC:
This approach packs everyone together, reducing the forces that will be applied, in theory. It also resurrects the kickoff as a viable, must-see play.
As noted by ESPN, the proposal by the Competition Committee “resembles the alignment used in the XFL during its 2020 and 2023 seasons….” The proposal is actually “designed to reverse more than a decade of declining return rates while also lowering concussion rates[,]” by positioning players so as “to minimize high-speed collisions….” During the two seasons in which this kickoff protocol was used in the XFL, “[m]ore than 90% of kickoffs were returned….”
It may be a challenge for proponents of this proposal to garner the necessary 24 votes to have it implemented. We will find out soon.
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