In a potential shakeup to NFL gameplay, reports indicate that the league is contemplating adopting the XFL's kickoff model for the 2024 season.
The proposal, which could be voted on by NFL owners as soon as March, stems from discussions within the league's competition committee, as detailed by NFL Media.
NFL Aims to Boost Kickoff Returns, Reduce Collisions
The XFL's kickoff rule diverges significantly from the NFL's current setup. In the XFL, the kicker lines up at their own 30-yard line, with the remainder of the kickoff team positioned at the opponent's 35-yard line, just five yards away from the returning team.
This configuration aims to foster more returns, thereby injecting additional action into the game. Notably, touchbacks in the XFL are placed at the 35-yard line, a deviation from the NFL's touchback placement at the 25-yard line.
The XFL, a professional American football league, initially operated for one season in 2001 before undergoing a revival for another season in 2018. However, it ultimately filed for bankruptcy in 2020.
The NFL's interest in revamping its kickoff model comes from a desire to strike a balance between encouraging more kick returns while mitigating the risk of high-impact collisions.
In recent seasons, the frequency of kickoff returns has dwindled significantly, with only 22 percent of kickoffs being returned during the 2023 season. Moreover, Super Bowl LVIII witnessed no kickoff returns, underscoring the need for potential adjustments.
The league's competition committee convened over the weekend to delve into possible modifications, with ongoing discussions slated to continue leading up to the owners' meeting in March.
Rich McKay, chairman of the competition committee and the CEO of the Atlanta Falcons, emphasized the importance of modernizing the kickoff while preserving its essence within the game. He underscored the need for creativity in devising solutions to reinvent the kickoff, recognizing that traditionalists within the league may harbor reservations.
"My perspective has been that we have to keep the kickoff in the game," McKay said in the meeting. "And to do that, we have to find a way to modernize it and get that play going again, because that 20 percent return rate is not what was intended for that rule. ... We said last year, I think, when we passed that fair catch rule that this was kind of a one-year rule, a one-time rule to get us to this point where hopefully we can reinvent the play."
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also attended the meeting, highlighting the significance of the deliberations.
Annually during the combine, the committee gathers to initiate the development of rule-change proposals for the upcoming offseason.
Special teams coaches from various NFL teams are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the discourse surrounding kickoff modifications. Their insights and expertise will likely inform the committee's decision-making process.
Kickoff Concussion Concerns in NFL
The NFL's deliberations also come against the backdrop of the league's recent implementation of temporary measures aimed at curbing concussions on kickoffs. Concussions have been a focal point of concern surrounding kickoffs, prompting the NFL to explore ways to make the play safer without diminishing its relevance.
These efforts, including awarding a touchback for a fair catch inside the 25-yard line, yielded mixed results. While they reduced concussions, they also contributed to the decline in kickoff returns.
As discussions unfold, the potential adoption of the XFL's kickoff model remains uncertain. While some within the league are receptive to the idea, securing the necessary 24 votes from team owners poses a significant hurdle.
Nevertheless, the NFL is poised to explore all avenues to ensure the kickoff remains a dynamic and integral aspect of the game while prioritizing player safety.
