The NFL has done it. They have approved a rule that all fans can agree on.
Before the XFL merged with the USFL to become the UFL, the league was widely praised for its unique kickoff where the kicker lines up at his 30-yard line, with the 10 other members of the kickoff team lining up at the opponent’s 35 — 5 yards away from the returning team.
The kicker and returner are the only players who can move until the ball is fielded. It has been talked about as something that could be seen in the NFL.
CBS Sports lead NFL insider Jonathan Jones reported that the rule has been approved on a one-year trial basis only, which means the NFL can do away with it if the rule doesn’t lead to more returns, which is what the league is hoping to see.
Here is how NFL fans reacted to the new rule:
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The rules for kickoffs going forward, va NBC.com:
- The kicking team will kick off from its own 35-yard line.
- 10 members of the kicking team will line up on the receiving team’s 40-yard line (25 yards in front of their kicker).
- A minimum of nine members of the receiving team will line up between their own 30- and 35-yard lines (five-to-10 yards in front of the 10 members of the kicking team).
- The receiving team can have zero, one, or two players inside their own 30-yard line to receive the kickoff.
- The play begins when the ball is either caught, hits the ground in the landing zone (inside the 20-yard line before the goal line), or is returned from the end zone. That’s when players can begin moving.
- Any kick that hits the landing zone must be returned.
- Any kick that bounces from the landing zone into the end zone must be returned or kneeled for a touchback (with possession going out to the 20-yard line).
- If a kick doesn’t reach the landing zone, the receiving team gets possession at its 40-yard line.
- If the ball enters the end zone in the air, the receiving team can return it or kneel it for possession at its 30-yard line.
- If the ball is kicked out of bounds, the receiving team gets possession at its 40-yard line.
- There are no fair catches.
- Onside kicks are only permitted in the fourth quarter and must be declared to officials
This new kickoff rule comes one day after the NFL revealed several other rule changes that will begin this fall when players take the field.
Also Read: REPORT: NFL Has One Major Concern About The Direction Of The Game Following The Past Few Seasons
The NFL Desperately Wants The Hybrid Kickoff Rule To Increase Returns
On Tuesday, NFL owners voted to pass the hybrid kickoff rule for several reasons. One of the reasons is to cut down on potential injuries, but the most important reason is to increase the number of returns during the 2024 season.
2023’s one-year rule had a change that allowed a kickoff to be placed at the 25-yard line when it was fair-caught behind the 25. Just 22% of the league’s kickoffs were returned.
That is a huge problem that the league wants to get rid of all while maintaining player health and safety as a priority.
Also Read: BREAKING: NFL Unanimously Votes In New Controversial Rule
