Every offseason, the NFL finds a way to get more points on the scoreboard by adopting and tweaking new rules that will inevitably favor the offense.
Last year, the league borrowed an idea from the [XFL](https://www.sbnation.com/xfl-football) that led to a drastic kickoff change. The objective was to increase the amount of kickoff returns while maintaining as much player safety as possible.
The change led to an 11 percent bump in kickoff returns, but the 32.8 percent likely fell short of what the league had hoped for. This year, the NFL Competition Committee proposes that all touchbacks place the ball at the 35-yard line. Previously, teams were kicking the ball out of the end zone.
Why wouldn’t you? The average kickoff return was 27.6 yards. The alternative was to spot the other team the ball at the 30-yard line without risk of a longer return. [According to the Committee chairman](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44417228/nfl-competition-committee-pitches-making-dynamic-kickoff-permanent), Rich McKay, the NFL projects its kickoff return rate to rise between 50 and 70 percent if owners approve the rule change that places touchbacks at the 35-yard line.
Last offseason, the owners temporarily approved the dynamic kickoff rule change for the 2024 season only. The competition committee has also proposed making the change permanent with a few other tweaks.
The committee also proposed changes to the replay assist program. If those are approved, the on-site replay offical can reverse flags thrown for hits on defensive players, facemasks, hore collar, tripping and running into or roughing the kicker.
McKay and the committee are arguing to owners that more kickoffs will lead to lower concussion rates, citing how better field position will lead to fewer punts.
I’m in the camp that we should always look to tweak the game and improve it as we get more information and technology. Teams won’t want opposing offenses starting on the 35-yard line, and if this is one step closer to phasing punters out of the game, I’m all for it.
I am skeptical that we’re trending toward Arena football, and we’re not far off from 35-31 being a typical score, where offenses will only need one first down before they’re in scoring position. If we’re going to evolve, let’s forget about the defensive side of the ball.
What do you think about how the kickoff worked last year and how a new tweak could improve it in 2025? Vote in the poll below and share your thoughts in the comment section.