NFL owners have made a major decision to revive a once beloved aspect of the game – the kickoff. In a meeting held on Tuesday, the owners decided to revamp the special teams play in order to make it more exciting for fans to watch. The new rule is expected to take a page out of the XFL’s book, further increasing the anticipation for the revamped play.
Under the newly implemented rule, the ball will be kicked from the 35-yard line with 10 special teams players lined up at the opposing 40-yard line, five on each side. At least nine blockers will be in the “set up zone” between the 30- and 35-yard line, with seven touching the 35-yard line. In addition, two returners will be allowed inside the 20-yard line.
There are a few interesting components to the new kickoff rule. Firstly, the only players allowed to move until the ball hits the ground or is touched by a returner inside the 20-yard line are the kicker and the two returners. This is a significant change from the previous rule where all players could move once the ball was kicked.
Secondly, if the ball reaches the end zone in the air, the returning team can choose to either return it or opt for a touchback, where the ball would be placed at the 30-yard line. If the ball goes out of the end zone, it will result in a touchback at the 30-yard line.
The idea for this change in the kickoff rule is not entirely new. It was previously seen in the reboot of the XFL, a professional American football league that was owned by WWE chairman Vince McMahon. Therefore, it is not surprising that the NFL has taken inspiration from a league that has successfully implemented this rule in its games.
NFL Competition Committee Chairman Rich McKay expressed his satisfaction with the decision, stating, “There was a little fear of the unknown, but I think the optics are definitely the most drastic rule change we’ve seen. The thing that gives us all the comfort is we have the tape, we’ve seen it. We can show you the plays and you can see how this can play out.”
Many are looking forward to seeing how this new rule will impact the game. Darren Rizzi, the special teams coordinator for the New Orleans Saints, even went as far as to say that it is a “great day for the NFL.” Rizzi also played a role in the development of the new rule, adding credibility to its potential success.
However, there were some concerns raised about the potential success of the new rule. Some owners were wary of the unknown and the possibility of the rule not working out as intended. Nevertheless, the rule received an overwhelming majority vote of 29 out of 32 owners in favor of its implementation.
Given that the new rule is subject to a trial run in the 2024 season, it will be interesting to see how it plays out and whether it will be renewed for the 2025 season. Fans and players alike will have to wait patiently to see the results of this change and whether it will add the desired level of excitement to the game.
Overall, the decision to revive the kickoff rule has sparked excitement and curiosity in the NFL community. With a proven track record in the XFL, it is understandable why the league owners have decided to take a chance on this rule change. As witnessed in other sports, sometimes a new rule implementation can bring about a refreshing change to the game, and this may very well be the case with the new kickoff rule in the NFL. Only time will tell if this decision will pay off, but for now, the anticipation is definitely building up among football fans.
