NFL's competition committee considering tweaking new kickoff rule
NFL's competition committee considering tweaking new kickoff rule
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The NFL has officially changed the rules of kickoff
USA Today's Safid Deen shares how kickoff will work come September for the 2024 NFL season.
Sports Pulse
The NFL may be changing their kickoff rule again ahead of the 2025 season.
According to reports, the NFL's competition committee is "likely" to propose a small tweak to the new kickoff rule that the league implemented one year ago at the annual league meetings. The new addendum would move the ball to the 35-yard line on touchbacks during a kickoff, five yards closer to the kicking team's end zone after it was moved to the 30-yard line last year.
The idea behind the tweak is that it would, in theory, prompt even more returned kicks. Last year's rule change resulted in a significant increase in returned kicks – from 21.8% in 2023 to 32.8% in 2024. The new tweak would further encourage kickers to aim for the "landing zone" – between the opponent's 20-yard line and goal line – rather than through the back of the end zone.
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Since last year's kickoff overhaul was only approved on an experimental basis, the league needs 24 votes from the 32 team owners to approve its renewal for 2025. The tweak on the touchback rule would be a part of that renewal vote, if the NFL competitions committee so chooses.
Reports say the league is expected to send the full list of rule change proposals to teams later this week.
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