The most dramatic rule change coming to the NFL this season is undoubtedly the league's new procedure for kicking and returning kickoffs. In 2023, the league hit its lowest-ever levels of kicks actually returned by the receiving team (teams opted for either fair catches or downing the kick ...
That's huge. The kickoff play has long been one of the most dangerous in football, but these changes have made a noticeable difference in player safety — something the league has been desperately trying to improve for years. While the rule changes are only in place for this season, the p...
Perhaps the rest of Week 1 will put the "dynamic" into the NFL's new kickoff rules. In the 2024 season opener between the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens, the league debuted its newDynamic Kickoff rule, aimed at breathing life into the play while also making it ...
Kickoff rule change shows promising early returns This year's preseason injury data is also the first to reflect the new Dynamic Kickoff rule. With the new rule in place, 70% of kickoffs were returned in the preseason while player speeds on the play decreased ...
FILE – The opening kickoff in a general stadium view during an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Jan. 13, 2024, in Houston. The NFL competition committee is proposing a rule to penalize so-called “hip-drop” tackles and a radical change to kickoffs to add more returns wi...
the approved rule changes will lead to a serious spike in return attempts. Because players won't be forced to run longer distances before impact, the injury risk is at least partially mitigated in the process. It should be a worthy trade-off as the league looks to make kickoffs entertain...
Last season, there were 1,970 touchbacks on kickoffs, which could now turn into returns, along with 92 fair catches that are no longer permitted. Under the new rule, any ball caught in the field of play must be returned. Other coaches view the proposed rule change as a significant...
This rule change is expected to influence how teams approach kickoffs, with theChiefspotentially setting a new trend. As teams adapt to the new rules, they might adopt similar strategies to the Chiefs, seeking to protect their kickers from the increased physical demands. ...
The NFL kickoff has evolved in several ways over the past 30 years. Ahead of the 2024 season, NFL clubs have approved major changes to the kickoff rule to increase the return rate and reduce player speed and high-speed collisions. Here’s a video explaining the new format: The NFL Footbal...
The NFL is making changes this season from start to finish, from so-called dynamic kickoffs to the way some defenders finish tackles. Even casual observers will notice the difference in kickoffs, aone-year changeaimed at making the play safer and more relevant. The new rules put the majority...