https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39812700/nfl-owners-approve-massive-revamp-kickoff-play

Kevin Seifert, ESPN Staff Writer
Mar 26, 2024, 09:22 AM ET

ORLANDO, Fla. -- NFL owners approved a massive revamp of the kickoff
play Tuesday, opting, after three days of discussions at the league's
annual meeting, for a format that originated in the XFL.

The proposal passed by a vote of 29-3, NFL competition chairman Rich
McKay said Tuesday. A proposal needs approval by 24 of the 32 owners to
pass.

"We feel this is a great day for the NFL," New Orleans Saints special
teams coordinator Darren Rizzi, who worked closely on the proposal, said
Tuesday. "We've taken a play that's essentially been dying over the
course of the last few years, in our opinion, and we revived it."

The new alignment rules represent the most significant on-field rule
change for the NFL in years and are designed to reverse more than a
decade of declining return rates while also lowering concussion rates.
In essence, the format will move the majority of the kicking and return
teams downfield to minimize high-speed collisions. It will go into
effect for one year only in anticipation of possible tweaks over time.

During the 2024 season, kickers will continue to kick from the 35-yard
line, but the other 10 players on the kickoff team will line up at the
receiving team's 40-yard line. At least nine members of the return team
will line up in a "setup zone" between the 35- and 30-yard lines. Up to
two returners can line up in a "landing zone" between the goal line and
the 20-yard line.

No one other than the kicker and returner(s) can move until the ball
hits the ground or hits a player inside the landing zone. Touchbacks
will be marked at the 30-yard line, and no fair catches will be allowed.
In the event a team wants to attempt an onside kick, it will have to
inform officials of its intent and would then be allowed to use the
NFL's traditional formation. No surprise onside kicks will be allowed.

"We're in the business of creating an entertaining product and putting a
product on the field that should be competitive in every moment. And we
had created a play that was no longer competitive, and our [goal was] to
try to find a way to make that play competitive. And this was, in our
opinion, our best option," McKay said. "Yes, it's a big change, but the
time has come to make that change."

The proposal follows the structure and philosophy of the XFL version
with a slight shift in where the players are aligned. In the XFL, they
lined up farther downfield, between the returning team's 30- and 35-yard
lines. More than 90% of kickoffs were returned during the XFL's two
seasons. NFL special teams coaches who participated in designing the NFL
version of this format are hoping for a return rate of at least 80% in 2024.

The reason for the change is clear. In its efforts to reduce concussions
on kickoffs, the NFL over the past 15 seasons has implemented rule
changes designed to reduce returns. It moved the kickoff from the
30-yard line to the 35-yard line, outlawed wedge and double-team blocks,
and in 2023 created a rule that allowed a fair catch to be spotted at
the 25-yard line.

Touchback rates dramatically increased over that period, and the return
rate fell to a league-record 21.7% in 2023. The number of concussions
dropped as well, but only in parallel with the decrease in returns. The
rate of concussions per kickoff, according to league officials, has
remained relatively constant.

"I think it will [be a positive]. I say that with a little bit of
hesitation. We will still have to tinker with it," commissioner Roger
Goodell said Tuesday. "We will reevaluate it as the season goes on. I
think it will be a big improvement. I think it will bring it back to a
relevant play, an exciting play."

Speaking before the vote, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said he was
in favor.

"You felt like that took a significant amount of plays out of the game,
and those were from special teams. And you don't make it up really
anywhere else. And so, we put an emphasis on it. So, I believe in it."

On Monday, owners approved three other rule changes:

A prohibition of the swivel hip-drop tackle technique.

Allowing teams to receive a third challenge after one successful
challenge. Previously, teams had to be successful on two challenges to
receive a third. This proposal was submitted by the Lions.

If there is a double foul during a down in which there is a change
or changes of possession, including if one of the fouls is a
post-possession foul by a team during a scrimmage kick, the team last
gaining possession will keep the ball after enforcement for its foul,
provided it did not foul before last gaining possession.

On 3/26/24 1:13 PM, Robin Miller wrote:
>
> https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39812700/nfl-owners-approve-massive-revamp-kickoff-play
>
>
> Kevin Seifert, ESPN Staff Writer
> Mar 26, 2024, 09:22 AM ET
>
>
> ORLANDO, Fla. -- NFL owners approved a massive revamp of the kickoff
> play Tuesday, opting, after three days of discussions at the league's
> annual meeting, for a format that originated in the XFL.
>
> The proposal passed by a vote of 29-3, NFL competition chairman Rich
> McKay said Tuesday. A proposal needs approval by 24 of the 32 owners to
> pass.
>
> "We feel this is a great day for the NFL," New Orleans Saints special
> teams coordinator Darren Rizzi, who worked closely on the proposal, said
> Tuesday. "We've taken a play that's essentially been dying over the
> course of the last few years, in our opinion, and we revived it."
>
> The new alignment rules represent the most significant on-field rule
> change for the NFL in years and are designed to reverse more than a
> decade of declining return rates while also lowering concussion rates.
> In essence, the format will move the majority of the kicking and return
> teams downfield to minimize high-speed collisions. It will go into
> effect for one year only in anticipation of possible tweaks over time.
>
> During the 2024 season, kickers will continue to kick from the 35-yard
> line, but the other 10 players on the kickoff team will line up at the
> receiving team's 40-yard line. At least nine members of the return team
> will line up in a "setup zone" between the 35- and 30-yard lines. Up to
> two returners can line up in a "landing zone" between the goal line and
> the 20-yard line.
>
> No one other than the kicker and returner(s) can move until the ball
> hits the ground or hits a player inside the landing zone. Touchbacks
> will be marked at the 30-yard line, and no fair catches will be allowed.
> In the event a team wants to attempt an onside kick, it will have to
> inform officials of its intent and would then be allowed to use the
> NFL's traditional formation. No surprise onside kicks will be allowed.
>
> "We're in the business of creating an entertaining product and putting a
> product on the field that should be competitive in every moment. And we
> had created a play that was no longer competitive, and our [goal was] to
> try to find a way to make that play competitive. And this was, in our
> opinion, our best option," McKay said. "Yes, it's a big change, but the
> time has come to make that change."
>
> The proposal follows the structure and philosophy of the XFL version
> with a slight shift in where the players are aligned. In the XFL, they
> lined up farther downfield, between the returning team's 30- and 35-yard
> lines. More than 90% of kickoffs were returned during the XFL's two
> seasons. NFL special teams coaches who participated in designing the NFL
> version of this format are hoping for a return rate of at least 80% in
> 2024.
>
> The reason for the change is clear. In its efforts to reduce concussions
> on kickoffs, the NFL over the past 15 seasons has implemented rule
> changes designed to reduce returns. It moved the kickoff from the
> 30-yard line to the 35-yard line, outlawed wedge and double-team blocks,
> and in 2023 created a rule that allowed a fair catch to be spotted at
> the 25-yard line.
>
> Touchback rates dramatically increased over that period, and the return
> rate fell to a league-record 21.7% in 2023. The number of concussions
> dropped as well, but only in parallel with the decrease in returns. The
> rate of concussions per kickoff, according to league officials, has
> remained relatively constant.
>
> "I think it will [be a positive]. I say that with a little bit of
> hesitation. We will still have to tinker with it," commissioner Roger
> Goodell said Tuesday. "We will reevaluate it as the season goes on. I
> think it will be a big improvement. I think it will bring it back to a
> relevant play, an exciting play."
>
> Speaking before the vote, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said he was
> in favor.
>
> "You felt like that took a significant amount of plays out of the game,
> and those were from special teams. And you don't make it up really
> anywhere else. And so, we put an emphasis on it. So, I believe in it."
>
>
> On Monday, owners approved three other rule changes:
>
>     A prohibition of the swivel hip-drop tackle technique.
>
>     Allowing teams to receive a third challenge after one successful
> challenge. Previously, teams had to be successful on two challenges to
> receive a third. This proposal was submitted by the Lions.
>
>     If there is a double foul during a down in which there is a change
> or changes of possession, including if one of the fouls is a
> post-possession foul by a team during a scrimmage kick, the team last
> gaining possession will keep the ball after enforcement for its foul,
> provided it did not foul before last gaining possession.
>

I've seen a few highlights of the XFL kickoffs. It looks a little funky
at first but I'm in favor of bringing kickoff returns back into the
game, the constant touchbacks have gotten ridiculous. This also makes
Derius Davis more of a weapon for the Chargers.

Michael