The NFL’s new kickoff rules were the buzz of the league’s spring meetings, when the league decided to opt into an XFL-style approach for a play that has devolved into a ceremonial fair catch. In 2023, less than 20 percent of the league’s kickoff attempts were returned at all. On top of that, league studies also showed that the play was dangerous when returners decided to field the ball, as concussion rates nearly doubled on kickoffs that weren’t fair caught.
Here comes the NFL’s new kickoff rule to save the day! Or maybe not. Before we get into the critique of this new rule, let’s fully explain them:
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