Broncos' Sean Payton Predicts How New NFL Kickoff Rule Change Will Impact Scoring

Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton thinks the NFL's new kickoff rule will transform the sport.

"Significant is a modest word for that," Broncos coach Sean Payton told reporters of the change. "I think all of us here, you guys asking the questions, myself answering them, this is going to be — we're excited about it. Every team like us right now is going through the 'what ifs' and the landing zones. Then I think most importantly, who's doing it different than who did it a year ago, because it's a completely different play."

The NFL made drastic changes to its kickoff system this offseason, modeled after an experiment done in the XFL. Under the new rule, every member of the kicking team besides the kicker will line up on the receiving team's 40-yard line. The receiving team must have nine players lined up between their 35 and 30 yard lines, with at least seven having one foot on the 35. A maximum of two return men can line up anywhere in the landing zone, and players cannot make contact until the kick has hit the ground or been touched by a receiving player.

"The two deep backs are going to have to have good ball skills, a little bit of a shortstop, third baseman, if you will, because we're not just going to get these easy to catch high kicks anymore," Payton said. "We're going to get these shots in the gaps, if you will. If it gets through our group and into the end zone, we're on the 20-yard line. If it goes out of bounds, obviously we're on the 40, or if it's short. So I think it creates a unique skillset for the returners."

Payton says he expects the blocking units for return teams to get bigger because they'll have to cover less distance on the field. He expects there to be double-digit return touchdowns this season.

There were only four kickoff return touchdowns in 2023. The NFL has not had 10 kickoff return touchdowns in a season since 2012.