NFL Rule Changes to Kickoffs Revealed; Likely to Be Implemented for 2018 Season

While the NFL is unlikely to remove kickoffs entirely, significant changes appear to be coming. 

Judy Battista of NFL.com provided the latest breakdown from the recent safety meeting:

The plan is reportedly to implement the changes for the 2018 season if the owners vote them in. Battista previously reported the league wants to eliminate big, dangerous hits that often lead to injuries on kickoffs.

As executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent explained on Twitter, the goal of the meetings was to "discuss ways to protect players from unnecessary risk."

According to Kevin Seifert of ESPN, the league's medical department explained that concussions are five times more likely to happen on kickoffs.

"We've reduced the number of returns," Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy said, "but we haven't really done anything to make the play safer."

College football has been aggressive in reducing the impact of kickoffs, recently announcing a rule that makes a fair catch inside the 25 a touchback.

There were seven kickoffs returned for a touchdown in the NFL in 2017, but if these changes are voted in, there will likely be fewer in 2018.