New Kickoff Rules

[Kevinicus]

It’s not even just Dallas though. We lost Turpin and they put anyone back there from Tolbert and Sanders….Sanders got us to the 32 yard line. That’s ridiculous. They need to change something.

A pretty much average return requires a change?

 

[dogberry]

Has this change impacted concussion rates?

The NFL has to be concerned with brains injuries.

 

[Havic]

If we cant go back to the original rules where guys like Dante Hall and Devin Hester made returns exciting, this is the next best thing

 

[TheKey]

Has this change impacted concussion rates?

The NFL has to be concerned with brains injuries.

That’s not what it’s for. It’s a Trojan horse to result in more scoring. More scoring = more eyeballs and more eyeballs = more money.

 

[SlammedZero]

If we cant go back to the original rules where guys like Dante Hall and Devin Hester made returns exciting, this is the next best thing

^^ This ^^

Miss just the old school kickoffs.

 

[DB_Cooper]

Agree totally with this topic. Can we please go back to the way kickoffs were a couple years ago? It gives teams unfair advantages offensively and causes more harm than good. Players are actually getting injured more often than they were previously. This needs fixed and they can do it quick.

I agree. The NFL didn’t like the injuries from kickoffs so they changed the rules. Fine. Then they didn’t like all of the touchbacks so they changed it again. The problem to me is they have moved up the lines which I like. When the did that they should have changed the touchback to back the 20. This would accomplish today’s goals of having more returns without injuries but without giving the offense such an advantage. You give today’s QB the ball on the 35 with 20 seconds left in the game they can easily get into field goal distance.

 

[diamonddelts]

Get rid of all punting. The most boring play in football.

 

[reddyuta]

Has this change impacted concussion rates?

The NFL has to be concerned with brains injuries.

In January, the NFL published data from the 2024 season that showed a “significant decrease in concussions.” As intended, the new rule slowed average player speeds, which led to a lower concussion rate – down 43% from 2021-2023
-----------------
significant decrease in concussions since players are not hitting each other at top speed.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

A pretty much average return requires a change?

32 yard line is average? In 2025 it is but it shouldn’t be. It should be a luxury to start there.

 

[DrlabonAggiesCowboys]

Player size limit?

They're all big enough to run and hit...

Some are bigger than others

 

[NDGAEDE]

I love it. It majorly sucked last year. There was essentially no point to the kickoff. Now, you dont know whats going to happen, which is how it should be.

 

[Rayman70]

Just scrap it. Go back to the way it was. Less injury, It evens the playing field for both teams.

 

[big dog cowboy]

This new kickoff rule is a disaster. Notwithstanding the fact that Aubrey hasn't figured it out yet

Week 1 - no until the 2nd half.

Week 2 - yes.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Go back to the way it was. Less injury

According the NFL, that is incorrect. There is a reason why kickoffs were changed.

 

[Rayman70]

According the NFL, that is incorrect. There is a reason why kickoffs were changed.

The league was wrong.

 

[jazzcat22]

Use to start around the 20 yard line, rather a touchback or a return.
Then they messed around the KO spot, 30 or 35 yard line.

Then they set it at the 25 yard line, then the 30 yard line for touchbacks.
Now the rules depends where the ball ends at. You can start anywhere between the 20 and 35. Or even the 40 if kicked out of bounds, or used to be.

The 35 is ridiculous.

The other thing is, This also factors into yards per game on both sides of the ball. As well offensive snaps.
What use to be a team dric=ves 80 yards for a score, now is only 65. But that means a defense gives up less yards.
Not that it should matter as much. But some fans may say it hurts their betting or fantasy points, or incentives on contracts to get to 1,000 yards.

Take away 15 yards per drive. Say even only 4 drives a game, that is 60 yards potentially lost, per team, but sound better for a defense.

I can live with the new KO set up. But the 35 yard line is stupid. But as mentioned, we only need to gain 15 to 20 yards to be in Aubrey's range.

 

[Aven8]

You’re complaining about a new rule that actually plays to our strength??

Turpin is now allowed to return kicks and Aubrey needs 15-20 yards out of the offense to score now. These are probably the two best ST’s players in football.

This has given us a huge advantage IMO.

 

[fivetwos]

In January, the NFL published data from the 2024 season that showed a “significant decrease in concussions.” As intended, the new rule slowed average player speeds, which led to a lower concussion rate – down 43% from 2021-2023
-----------------
significant decrease in concussions since players are not hitting each other at top speed.

It’s about nothing more than being able to show they are doing something about brain injuries in the event they are sued yet again.

Owners don’t want to be forking over cash to former players because they need it all for their greedy selves.

 

[Kevinicus]

32 yard line is average? In 2025 it is but it shouldn’t be. It should be a luxury to start there.

It's close to it yes.

The average in previous years was about the 30 yard line.

 

[reddyuta]

32.8% of kickoffs were returned in 2024,in 2025 it's almost 75% of kickoffs which have been returned.