NFL competition committee proposes
moving touchback to 35 and making dynamic kickoff permanent
[March 27, 2025]
By JOSH DUBOW
The NFL competition committee is recommending making the dynamic
kickoff rule permanent and moving touchbacks to the 35-yard line in
hopes of generating even more returns.
The competition committee released several potential rule changes
for 2025 on Wednesday, including an expansion of instant replay that
will be considered next week at the league meetings in Palm Beach,
Florida. Any rule change must be approved by 24 out of 32 team
owners.
Teams submitted several proposals last week that also could be voted
on at the league meetings, including banning the “tush push” and
changing playoff seeding rules.
Owners approved a major change to the kickoff last year on a
one-year trial basis and the committee recommended another change to
increase the rate of returns without increasing the risk of
injuries. The league had 332 additional returns last season with the
rate increasing from a record-low 21.8% in 2023 to 32.8% last
season.
The committee hopes that moving the touchback on kicks that reach
the end zone on the fly from the 30 to the 35 will incentivize
kicking teams to opt for shorter kicks that lead to more returns
with a projection that the rate of return could double.
“We think that’s a lot of motivation for people to kick the ball in
play and get returns back in the game,” NFL Competition Committee
chairman Rich McKay said.
The committee also proposed allowing teams to declare their
intention for an onside kick at any point in the game when they are
trailing instead of only in the fourth quarter and had a slight
tweak in the formation in hopes of slightly increasing the recovery
rate. There was no interest by any team or the committee in changing
the onside kick to a fourth and long play like there had been in the
past, with league executive Troy Vincent calling it too “gimmicky.”
The committee proposed a few other tweaks to how players on the
return team can align before the kick but the basics will remain the
same with the kicker lining up at his own 35, the 10 coverage
players at the 40, and at least nine blockers lined up in the “setup
zone” between the 30- and 35-yard line and up to two returners in
the landing zone inside the 20.
Any kick that reaches the end zone in the air can be returned, or
the receiving team can opt for a touchback, which now will be at the
35.
Only the kicker and two returners are allowed to move until the ball
hits the ground or is touched by a returner inside the 20.
[to top of second column] |
The Kansas City Chiefs kickoff to the Philadelphia Eagles at the
start of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025,
in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
According to the NFL, there were 59 returns of at
least 40 yards last season, the most in the league since 2016, and
seven TD returns. The concussion rate fell 43% from the previous
three years and there were the fewest lower-extremity strains on
kick return plays since 2018.
“We ended up with an injury rate very much like a play from
scrimmage,” NFL executive Jeff Miller said. “That’s what the goal
was. If the rule is passed and we do end up with more returns, we
would presume, without any evidence to the contrary, that the injury
rate will stay similar to a run or pass play.”
Miller also added that the chance of injury with more returns on
kicks would be somewhat negated by fewer punts — which have a higher
injury rate than any other current play — thanks to improved field
position under the new rule.
The committee also proposed an expansion of instant replay to allow
replay assist to consult on-field officials to overrule objective
calls such as facemask penalties, whether there was forcible contact
to the head or neck area, horse-collar tackles or tripping if there
was “clear and obvious” evidence that a foul didn't occur. Replay
would also be able to overturn a roughing the kicker or running into
the kicker penalty if video replay showed the defender made contact
with the ball.
Replay assist could only wipe out a foul if it was incorrectly
called but Vincent and McKay said there was no support for a penalty
to be called by replay assist even though it was discussed.
“We know there’s going to be mistakes, there’s going to be human
errors,” Vincent said. “Let’s fix some of those things that we can
fix. But to put a flag on the field was a non-starter.”
The committee also proposed allowing two players to be designated to
return from injured reserve if they are placed on IR when rosters
are reduced to 53, granting playoff teams two more return from IR
spots in the postseason, and using point differential as the third
tiebreaker on waiver claims.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
