The National Football League has approved the new kickoff rule and this has come as one of the major rule changes in the history of the league. The owners of the league recently voted to approve the new regulation, which transforms the changes in kickoff.
The NFL in acquiesce voted to implement a minimally disruptive model of kickoff at the annual league’s meeting and it is based on what the XFL had followed. The league has decided on one of the major factors, as the new model will improve returns while lowering injury rates.
Here’s the final summary on the NFL Hybrid Kickoff that owners approved today on a one-year trial basis. pic.twitter.com/FYKaytdwka
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 26, 2024
NFL owners voted to approve the new kickoff rule.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2024
BREAKING: The #NFL has approved the new hybrid kickoff rule that will be in place just for this year, but potentially longer.
New Rules:
• The kicking team, other than the kicker, cannot move until the ball hits the ground or player in the landing zone or the end zone.
• All… pic.twitter.com/ymrH4RBG3Z
— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) March 26, 2024
Here’s what the new NFL kickoff will look like this season: pic.twitter.com/vtR5bqGZLK
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2024
Huge changes coming to the NFL kickoff: Owners have voted to go with a new format for kicks, per sources. I explain what that means for the kickoff here… it’s going to look VERY different. pic.twitter.com/c2WDjdV0iY
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) March 26, 2024
According to Kevin Patra of NFL.com, “Kickoffs will remain at the 35-yard line, but the remaining 10 players on the kicking unit will line up at the opposing team’s 40-yard line. The receiving team lines up with at least seven players in the “set-up zone,” a five-yard area between their own 35- and 30-yard lines, with a maximum of two returners can line up in the landing zone.”
“After the ball is kicked, the kicker cannot cross the 50-yard line and the 10 kicking team players cannot move until the ball hits the ground or a player in the landing zone or goes into the end zone. The receiving team’s players in the set-up zone also cannot move until the kick has hit the ground or a player in the landing zone or the end zone. The returner(s) may move at any time before or during the kickoff.”
The new rule that has been approved for kickoff will be reevaluated after the 2024 NFL season, as it has been accepted on a trial basis for now.
