The NFL is set to introduce a significant transformation to its kickoff rules for the 2024 season. CBS Sports’ top NFL insider, Jonathan Jones, has revealed that the league’s 32 owners have given the green light to the new kickoff proposal during the Annual League Meeting on Tuesday. Initially, the vote was slated for Monday, but hesitation among several owners about implementing such a substantial change to the NFL rulebook led to a 24-hour postponement. Ultimately, the decision to delay paid off, with the proposal passing by a vote of 29-3, with the Raiders, 49ers, and Packers dissenting.
Jones also mentioned that the rule has been approved on a trial basis for one year, allowing the NFL the option to discard it if it doesn’t result in an increase in returns, which is the league’s goal.
The revamped kickoff bears little resemblance to its predecessor. The proposal, spanning 9.5 pages, introduces a host of changes. For starters, the formation on the field during a kickoff will look markedly different. Out of the 22 players, 21 will be positioned within the receiving team’s territory. The breakdown for the kicking team is as follows: the kicker will stand alone, setting up the ball at his own 35-yard line and is prohibited from crossing midfield until the ball is in play. The ball is considered in play when the returner catches it, it hits the ground in the landing zone, or reaches the end zone. The remaining 10 players on the kicking team will line up at the receiving team’s 40-yard line, with a requirement to have at least one foot on the 40 before the play starts. Additionally, the kicking team must distribute five players on each side of the ball to prevent loading up on one side.
The receiving team’s setup will also see adjustments. Most of the receiving team will be positioned at the 35-yard line, with a 5-yard setup zone extending from their 30 to the 35-yard line. Seven players must have their foot on the 35-yard line, with the option for two additional players to be in the setup zone but not on the 35-yard line, positioned outside the hashes. The receiving team can choose to have one or two returners to field the ball, with any additional player required to be in the setup zone between the 30- and 35-yard line.
A significant part of the new rule is the “landing zone,” defined as the area between the receiving team’s goal line and the 20-yard line. Players from the kickoff coverage team and blockers on the receiving team are not allowed to move until the football has been fielded by a returner or touches the ground in the landing zone. Additionally, fair catches are not permitted if the kickoff is caught on the fly in the landing zone, ensuring a return.
The rule also introduces three types of touchbacks to encourage more returns, making it advantageous for kickers to aim for a returnable ball. If the kickoff fails to cross the return team’s 20-yard line, the ball is considered out of bounds, and the return team gains possession at its own 40-yard line. A touchback at the 30-yard line occurs if the ball is kicked into the end zone on the fly, with a slight adjustment made from the originally proposed 35-yard line. Lastly, a touchback at the 20-yard line happens if the ball hits the ground in the landing zone and then rolls into the end zone without being returned.
With the approval of the new kickoff rule, the NFL will also see changes to the onside kick. The previous onside kick rule is no longer applicable, as the kickoff must reach the receiving team’s 20-yard line to be considered in play. Onside kicks will be restricted to the fourth quarter and only if a team is trailing. Teams must declare their intention to attempt an onside kick, eliminating the element of surprise.
As the NFL preseason approaches in August, starting with the Hall of Fame Game between the Bears and Texans, special teams coaches across the league will be diligently exploring strategies to leverage the new kickoff rule to their advantage.