Making sense of NFL’s new kickoff rule and what it means for next season
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Making sense of NFL’s new kickoff rule and what it means for next season

New York Times  

The NFL’s 29-3 approval Tuesday of new kickoff rules creates one of the league’s most radical changes ever, with the hope of bringing excitement back to the play while reducing injuries. Understanding the basics NFL’s hybrid kickoff basic rules Zone rules: • The ball has to be returned if it’s kicked into the landing zone. • If the ball is kicked into the landing zone, rolls into the end zone and gets downed by the kickoff team, it will placed at the 20-yard line. • The coverage team cannot move until the ball is touched by the return team or hits the ground in the landing zone.

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History of this topic

NFL considers rule change after Donald Trump blasted new kickoffs
2 months, 2 weeks ago

NFL considers rule change after Donald Trump blasted new kickoffs

Daily Mail  

The NFL is considering a rule change after criticism from former President Donald Trump, according to a report. 'I think we'll have to make a few changes on the kickoff that will, I think, lead to a lot more kickoff returns,' Goodell said on NFL Network's 'Good Morning Football' Tuesday. The NFL is considering a rule change after former president …

Analysis: Real test for NFL’s new kickoff rule begins in the regular season
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Analysis: Real test for NFL’s new kickoff rule begins in the regular season

Associated Press  

On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. “I don’t know if there’s a negative right now,” Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said of the new rules. They didn’t want to throw anything out there where you could scout in terms of that nature,” Eagles special teams coordinator Michael Clay said. So we’re going to try …

New rules led to more kickoff returns and no hip-drop tackle penalties in the preseason
3 months, 2 weeks ago

New rules led to more kickoff returns and no hip-drop tackle penalties in the preseason

Associated Press  

The early returns on the NFL’s new kickoff rules are in from the preseason and the result is a significant increase in returns. There were also more big returns and better average starting field position, which could increase scoring after a drop last season to the lowest level since 2017. Last season led to a new low with just 21.8% …

For NFL kickers, new kickoff rules mean abandoning old habits, but also new opportunities
4 months, 2 weeks ago

For NFL kickers, new kickoff rules mean abandoning old habits, but also new opportunities

Associated Press  

IRVINE, Calif. — New Orleans Saints special teams coach Darren Rizzi said he felt like a real estate agent during the early days of training camp, urging kickers to scrap their long-held, deep-ball approach to kickoffs and focus instead on “location, location, location.” “You’ve got to get the old mentality out of your heads,” Rizzi said. “It’s a little more …

Chargers start bouncing around ideas about new kickoff rules for practice with Rams
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Chargers start bouncing around ideas about new kickoff rules for practice with Rams

LA Times  

The Chargers’ Cameron Dicker will need to work on different styles of kickoffs because of the new NFL rule. “We’re going to get work in … whether that be against the Chargers, the Rams or whoever it may be,” special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken said. “It was good to see two different teams go at it and observe what they’ve …

First two kickoffs under NFL’s new rules are both returned to the 26
4 months, 3 weeks ago

First two kickoffs under NFL’s new rules are both returned to the 26

Associated Press  

CANTON, Ohio — The first two kickoffs under the NFL’s radical new rule were both returned a yard farther than the old touchback. Houston’s Steven Sims fielded Cairo Santos’ kickoff at the 5 and ran 21 yards before he was tackled at the 26 to open Thursday night’s preseason game between the Texans and Chicago Bears. If a ball hits …

How will kickoffs look different in 2024 and what other rule changes are coming to the NFL
4 months, 3 weeks ago

How will kickoffs look different in 2024 and what other rule changes are coming to the NFL

Associated Press  

The NFL will have a new look this year when it comes to kickoffs. If a kick goes out of bounds before the end zone, or hits the ground or is touched by the receiving team before reaching the landing zone, the return team gets the ball at the 40. Kicks that hit the ground in the landing zone and …

How EA Sports is incorporating the NFL’s new kickoff rule into Madden 25
6 months, 1 week ago

How EA Sports is incorporating the NFL’s new kickoff rule into Madden 25

New York Times  

ORLANDO, Fla. — During the NFL’s annual meetings in Orlando in March, local EA Sports officials met with the league’s head coaches to take 3D scans of their heads for use in the next game, an annual procedure, when an unexpected question popped up. “What are you guys going to do if the kickoff rule gets changed?” one coach asked …

Ravens’ Justin Tucker says he’s in weight room more to prepare for new kickoff rules
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Ravens’ Justin Tucker says he’s in weight room more to prepare for new kickoff rules

New York Times  

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker is taking a new workout approach this offseason to prepare for the NFL’s changed kickoff rules in 2024. Tucker said he’s noticed in XFL games that kickers have been involved in 25 percent of the tackles with the revamped kickoff play, sparking him to hit the weight room more. The kickoff team defenders are not …

NFL teams actually care about kickoffs in practice again after radical rule change
6 months, 2 weeks ago

NFL teams actually care about kickoffs in practice again after radical rule change

Associated Press  

FRISCO, Texas — The Kansas City Chiefs are considering the possibility of safety Justin Reid handling some kickoffs. “I haven’t training camp practices yet, but every day we’re going to be working either kickoff or kickoff return,” Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub said. “There’s a lot of people speculating it’s going to be more like an offensive or defensive …

Why did the NFL change the kickoff rule and how will it be implemented?
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Why did the NFL change the kickoff rule and how will it be implemented?

Associated Press  

NFL owners were busy this week, approving a series of rule changes that address player safety, overhaul the kickoff and expand the use of instant replay. The most significant change revolves around the kickoff that has gone from one of the more exciting plays with game-breakers like Devin Hester threatening to take a kick back 100 yards for a score …

NFL owners approve a radical overhaul to kickoff rules, adopting setup used in XFL
8 months, 3 weeks ago

NFL owners approve a radical overhaul to kickoff rules, adopting setup used in XFL

Associated Press  

ORLANDO, Fla. — Kickoff returns are returning to the NFL. “We feel this is a great day for the NFL,” said Saints special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi, who was heavily involved in creating the framework for the new hybrid kickoff. “The kickoff returners’ value is gonna skyrocket,” Cowboys special teams coach John Fassel said. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he …

NFL votes to significantly alter kickoff rules in name of safety and to revive returns
8 months, 3 weeks ago

NFL votes to significantly alter kickoff rules in name of safety and to revive returns

LA Times  

The NFL voted to radically alter kickoffs in order to add more returns without compromising safety. “Whether you like it or don’t like it, you’re going to watch it,” New Orleans Saints special teams coach Darren Rizzi said after the hybrid kickoff rule was passed at the annual league meetings. “Now it’s going to be must-see TV.” Here’s how the …

NFL owners unanimously approve a rule that bans the hip-drop tackle
8 months, 4 weeks ago

NFL owners unanimously approve a rule that bans the hip-drop tackle

Associated Press  

ORLANDO, Fla. — The NFL is eliminating the hip-drop tackle. “It doesn’t get used very often, but when it is used, it’s incredibly injurious to the runner,” NFL Competition Committee chairman Rich McKay said. What do I do?’ And my response has always been, ‘Well, you can’t do that, and that’s just because the guy you’re hitting is defenseless and …

Will NFL have new kickoff rules next season? Owners will vote on proposal Monday
8 months, 4 weeks ago

Will NFL have new kickoff rules next season? Owners will vote on proposal Monday

New York Times  

ORLANDO, Fla. — John Fassel stepped out of the Ritz-Carlton ballroom with a pencil behind his ear, as always. The Dallas Cowboys’ special teams coordinator was invited to his first league meetings with a special responsibility this year: to present the new kickoff proposal to all 32 NFL owners for the first time. Dallas Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel, …

NFL execs aiming to outlaw hip-drop tackle, revise kickoff rules
9 months ago

NFL execs aiming to outlaw hip-drop tackle, revise kickoff rules

New York Times  

The NFL’s competition committee and NFL teams have finalized their proposed rule changes for the 2024 season. The rule would make it so that a 15-yard penalty is enforced if a player grabs a runner with both hands/arms while attempting to make a tackle and “unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping …

Kickoff changes, hip-drop tackle bans, expanded technology use could be voted on by NFL owners in spring
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Kickoff changes, hip-drop tackle bans, expanded technology use could be voted on by NFL owners in spring

New York Times  

INDIANAPOLIS — As NFL draft prospects, talent evaluators and officials convened for evaluations and interviews at the annual scouting combine, the members of the NFL’s competition committee spent several days studying and debating whether to alter multiple key elements of the game in the coming season. The modification of the kickoff, the elimination of the hip-drop tackle, possible tweaks to …

NFL kickoff variations through the years and how it compares to other leagues
1 year, 6 months ago

NFL kickoff variations through the years and how it compares to other leagues

New York Times  

The NFL passed a controversial kickoff rule on Tuesday at the league owners meetings where the ball will be put in play at the receiving team’s 25-yard line if there is a fair catch on a free kick behind the receiving team’s 25-yard line. Here’s a timeline of notable changes involving ball placement and touchback/fair catch ball placement leading up …

NFL adjusts fair-catch rule for kickoffs and safeties in 2023: What’s next for kickoffs?
1 year, 7 months ago

NFL adjusts fair-catch rule for kickoffs and safeties in 2023: What’s next for kickoffs?

New York Times  

NFL owners approved a rule change Tuesday involving fair catches for the upcoming season. This goes back to the “NOLA No Call” during the 2018 NFC Championship Game between the Saints and Rams involving the infamous pass-interference penalty that wasn’t called. — Holder What they’re saying Rich McKay, who heads the league’s competition committee, was asked Tuesday during a news …

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