Ahead the the NFL annual meeting that will take place next week in Palm Beach, Fla., the competition committee has proposed a few rule changes, including changes to the dynamic kickoff that was implemented last season and expanded usage of replay.
Regarding the kickoff, the first thing the competition committee wants is to make the dynamic permanent, but with certain changes. The most significant of those changes is moving touchbacks to the 35-yard line in hopes of generating more returns.
Kicks that hit the ground in the landing zone then go into the end zone for a touchback would still bring the ball out to the 20-yard line, as it did last season.
Owners approved the change to the dynamic kickoff last year on a one-year trial basis. In turn, 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 increase in returns also came with a 43% reduction in concussion rate versus the league's average over the previous three seasons.
Another change to the kickoff would bring back onside kicks to any time throughout the game, as long as the team is trailing. Under last year's rule, teams could only go for an onside kick in the fourth quarter. Teams would still have to declare an onside kick, meaning no return of potential 'surprise' onside kicks.
The committee also proposed an expansion of replay assist, allowing on-field officials to be overruled on "objective" penalty calls such as facemasks, 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. Roughing the kicker or running into the kicker would also be able to be overturned if video replay showed the defender made contact with the ball.
This, however, does not work two ways. Replay assist would not be able to call penalties missed by officials. So, if an official misses an egregious grasp of the facemask, replay assist could not call a penalty.
"We know there's going to be mistakes, there's going to be human errors," said Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations. "Let's fix some of those things that we can fix. But to put a flag on the field was a non-starter."
These rule changes will be discussed along with the other proposals made by teams, including a potential ban of the "tush push" and a change in playoff seeding at the NFL annual meeting, which begins Sunday. I'll be in Palm Beach, Fla., to cover the event. Mike Tomlin is on the competition committee, so it'll be interesting to hear his perspective on the committee's proposals.
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Chris Halicke
4:30 pm - 03.27.2025DowntownMore changes to the kickoff?
Ahead the the NFL annual meeting that will take place next week in Palm Beach, Fla., the competition committee has proposed a few rule changes, including changes to the dynamic kickoff that was implemented last season and expanded usage of replay.
Regarding the kickoff, the first thing the competition committee wants is to make the dynamic permanent, but with certain changes. The most significant of those changes is moving touchbacks to the 35-yard line in hopes of generating more returns.
Kicks that hit the ground in the landing zone then go into the end zone for a touchback would still bring the ball out to the 20-yard line, as it did last season.
Owners approved the change to the dynamic kickoff last year on a one-year trial basis. In turn, 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 increase in returns also came with a 43% reduction in concussion rate versus the league's average over the previous three seasons.
Another change to the kickoff would bring back onside kicks to any time throughout the game, as long as the team is trailing. Under last year's rule, teams could only go for an onside kick in the fourth quarter. Teams would still have to declare an onside kick, meaning no return of potential 'surprise' onside kicks.
The committee also proposed an expansion of replay assist, allowing on-field officials to be overruled on "objective" penalty calls such as facemasks, 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. Roughing the kicker or running into the kicker would also be able to be overturned if video replay showed the defender made contact with the ball.
This, however, does not work two ways. Replay assist would not be able to call penalties missed by officials. So, if an official misses an egregious grasp of the facemask, replay assist could not call a penalty.
"We know there's going to be mistakes, there's going to be human errors," said Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations. "Let's fix some of those things that we can fix. But to put a flag on the field was a non-starter."
These rule changes will be discussed along with the other proposals made by teams, including a potential ban of the "tush push" and a change in playoff seeding at the NFL annual meeting, which begins Sunday. I'll be in Palm Beach, Fla., to cover the event. Mike Tomlin is on the competition committee, so it'll be interesting to hear his perspective on the committee's proposals.
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