NFL Rumors: XFL Kickoff Rule Change Not Likely to Be Approved for 2024 Season

The NFL has explored the possibility of revamping how kickoffs play out, but the league reportedly won't be taking a page out of the XFL's rulebook.

Per Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, the NFL is "not likely" to receive the 24 votes from ownership necessary to adopt the XFL's kickoff rule for the 2024 season.

"The XFL kickoff puts 20 players five yards apart, on the receiving team's 30- and 35-yard line, with those players remaining static until the kick is caught by the lone return specialist," Florio explained.

Kickoff returns have become scarce in today's game, as the NFL has explored ways to make the game safer by minimizing high-speed collisions.

While the XFL's rule would result in more returns, it was noted that neither the Competition Committee nor NFL coaches are advocating for it to be implemented.

"Someone else is pushing it," a source told Florio, who then noted that the proposal "can't be ruled out completely" if that someone is commissioner Roger Goodell or one of his trusted advisors.

It would be an interesting move if Goodell pushes for the XFL rule to be adopted, as the UFL announced on Tuesday that it will not be implementing the XFL kickoff either.

The UFL, which is a merger between the XFL and USFL, will instead be using a traditional kickoff where the ball is placed at the kicking team's 20-yard line.