With the NFL experiencing very few kickoff returns during the 2023 season, an attempt was made to both make the play relevant again and reduce injuries. With the highest impact collisions of any play, the NFL looked to keep the play from being one where players were running the entire length of the field just to crash into each other. There was no guarantee it would work, but the league was wanting to at least give it a try to see if they could make the play safer and more dynamic.

So did it work?

This past week, there was an article on NFL.com which outlined several things in regards to safety and the effect of the new kickoff rules. While a decrease in concussions is not only as a result of a change in kickoffs, as there are now players wearing guardian helmets during the game, it is one factor. Here was some of the data on concussions released by the NFL:

Significant decrease in concussions

Concussions decreased 17% compared to last season and 12% compared to the 2021-2023 season average. This decrease builds on a record preseason, which had the fewest number of concussions in practices and games since 2015 and comes as the league continues to aggressively identify and evaluate concussions (doctors continue to evaluate 3-4 players for every concussion diagnosis).

Seeing concussions decreased is good for the entire NFL. Since kickoffs were the play where concussions happened most often, at least when it came to how many concussions occurred per play, the NFL got what it wanted in that regard.

So how about information beyond concussions? Here was some of the information that the NFL shared earlier this week:

Dynamic Kickoff

The new Dynamic Kickoff rule worked as intended. Returns increased 57% in the regular season and there were 7 kickoffs returned for touchdowns, the most since 2021. The new rule slowed the average player speeds, as intended, which led to a lower concussion rate (down 43% vs. 2021-2023 average) and the fewest lower extremity strains on the play since at least 2018.

So the NFL got some of the desired results they were looking for in the new kickoff. But it is also important to remember that sometimes the numbers can be deceiving.

Even though kickoff returns increased 57% over 2023, it’s because they were so historically low that an increase would look impressive statistically. The 2024 season still saw the second lowest returns the NFL has seen in some time, it just wasn’t as low as the previous season.

So what can the NFL do to increase number of kickoff returns?

I saw it was suggested by some that if the touchback result was moved back to the 20-yard line than teams might be more likely to return kickoffs. To me, I think this would have the opposite effect. Who really determines whether or not there will be a kick return? Is it really the return team, or is it the team kicking off choosing whether or not they will kick the ball into the end zone or leave it short to force the team into a return?

Personally, I believe it’s the kicker who is determining whether there will be a return or not. If the kicker is blasting the ball deep into the end zone, or even through the end zone, the return team doesn’t really have the option. Also, if the kicker leaves the ball short of the goal line, the return team doesn’t have an option as they must return the ball. In many NFL games that I watched this season, I didn’t see an overwhelming amount of kicks that were into the end zone and yet the team still chose to return it. While this does happen some, it is not the norm. Typically it’s the choice of the kickoff team as to how they’re going to handle things.

The reason the kickoff team would continue to choose a touchback, even though it put the ball at the 30-yard line, is because it wasn’t very often the return team was stopped significantly short of the 30-yard line on the return. Even more rare was having the team get the ball inside the 20-yard line on a kickoff outside of their being a penalty on the return team. So the risk/reward factor was not enough as a team was generally only gaining 5–10 yards on good kickoff coverage yet ran the risk of return beyond the 30-yard line.

To me, that is the issue that needs fixed. If the NFL wants teams kicking the ball short of the end zone to create more returns, there should be a better chance for the kickoff team to make a quality stop to significantly impact field position.

This is what I’m proposing…

Move the 19–20 players 5 yards closer to the end zone.

The kickoff still happens from the teams own 35-yard line. But instead of having the rest of the kickoff team lineup at the 40-yard line of their opponent and the kickoff return team having 9 or 10 players (typically 9) between their 30 to 35-yard line, move it a little bit closer. The kickoff team now lines up at the 35-yard line and the return team is between their own 25-yard line and 30-yard line.

By getting the kickoff team 5 yards closer to the end zone, this would increase the possibility of them making a stop inside the 20-yard line. With this being the case, I think kickoff teams would be more likely to leave the ball short of the end zone and give themselves a legitimate chance of winning a field position battle. The risk/reward would be a much better ratio.

I have no idea if this is something the NFL is considering. I believe it would be much better for teams knowing they had a better chance if they made a good play to change the starting field position. By doing so, there would likely be an increase in touchdown returns simply because of there being more returns in general. Putting the kickoff team closer but yet having the kick occur from the same place shouldn’t significantly change the return team’s ability to sneak through the coverage and break a return for a touchdown.

So what do you think? Would this make the “dynamic kickoff” a little more dynamic? Could it give the NFL even more of their desired outcome? Make sure you leave your thoughts in the comments below.