NFL to Consider Rule Changes to Improve Kickoff Return Rate, Onside Kick Chances

The NFL's dynamic kickoff format, a controversial addition in the 2024 season, may be getting a few tweaks going forward.

Notably, NFL Competition Committee co-chairman Rich McKay told reporters on Sunday that the league is looking at ways to increase the number of returned kicks, including either moving the touchback field position to the 35-yard line (it was the 30-yard line this past season), moving the kickoff tee location back five yards, or perhaps instituting both options.

McKay also noted that the Committee will investigate different ways to either make onside kicks more possible to recover or potentially replace them altogether:

The dynamic kickoff was added in 2024 to increase the number of returned kicks while also reducing the safety risks on what has been a historically dangerous play, given that players sprint full speed down the field toward opposing blockers and the ball-carrier. According to the NFL, kicks were returned at a 32.8 percent clip this past season, up from 21.8 percent in the 2023 campaign.

Kicking teams employed two main strategies. One, they could kick the ball into the landing zone—the area between the goal line and 20-yard line—and defend the kick, hoping to contain the return or keep it within the 30-yard line. The alternative was to simply kick the ball into the end zone and live with the touchback, giving their opponent the ball on the 30.

Kick returns remain one of the more exciting plays in football, so it isn't much of a surprise that the NFL is investigating ways to increase their occurrence within the new format.