NFL to Consider XFL Kickoff Rule Change During 2024 Offseason

As the NFL continues to explore ways to increase player safety during games, the league is looking into potentially implementing the kickoff rules used by the XFL.

Per Mark Maske of the Washington Post, the NFL has "been analyzing" the XFL's kickoff model and will at least consider adopting it, "along with other potential modifications" this offseason.

Under the XFL model, the kicker lines up at his own 30-yard line and the other 10 members of the kickoff team line up at the opponent's 35-yard line—five yards away from the returning team's blockers. The kicker and one returner are the only players allowed to move before the ball is touched.

The XFL kickoff rule was adopted when the league relaunched in 2020. It was adapted from the Fall Experimental Football League that ran for two seasons in 2014 and 2015.

There have been rumblings about the NFL considering the XFL's kickoff rule for months. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported in August the league was looking into data from the play to determine if it is safer than the traditional rule used in the NFL:

"The NFL is exploring XFL data regarding the play. The overriding goal is to reduce the potential for concussions (serious neck injuries are a less-publicized concern) by shrinking the distance between opposing players. The XFL rule leaves only five yards of space for players to cover before contact, keeping them from getting to top speed."

Maske noted the NFL's review of the XFL model is underway and a change could be considered by the competition committee.

The NFL did make a change to the kickoff rules for this season. If players signaled for a fair catch on a kick inside the 25-yard line, it would be treated like a touchback with the ball being placed at the 25-yard line.

Jeff Miller, NFL executive vice president of communications, public affairs and policy, told Maske the fair-catch rule is "neither safer nor more dangerous." He also said the league has "analyzed" the XFL rule to see if there are things they can learn from it.

"There will be a number of other options that we're taking a look at, at the behest of the [competition] committee," Miller said.

The fair-catch rule was approved for one year, so it's unclear if it will return for the 2024 season.

The next meeting of the competition committee will be during the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis that begins on Feb. 26.