“NFL kickoff rule change 2023”
As the new NFL kickoff rule change season officially commences on Thursday, September 7, new NFL kickoff rule change it presents an ideal opportunity to revisit a significant rule modification that was instituted during the offseason and will be highlighted in the upcoming Chiefs vs. Lions matchup.
In May, NFL team owners granted their approval for a rule revision. According to this fresh regulation, when a fair catch is made on a free kick (whether it’s a safety or kickoff) behind the 25-yard line, the ball will now be positioned at the 25-yard line. Prior to this rule adjustment, the ball would be placed at the location where the fair catch was secured. It’s important to emphasize that this alteration is currently in effect for the current year exclusively.
This marks the most recent development in the ongoing efforts to reduce kick returns in football. It is a response to the increased risks associated with high-speed interactions between players from opposing teams. Rich McKay, the chairman of the NFL’s competition committee, has cited the growing number of concussions as the driving factor behind this change. He explained that college football served as the inspiration for this adjustment, which was introduced during the summer. In a May interview with NFL Network, he stated, NFL kickoff rule “The kickoff play has undergone several changes in recent years, all driven by concerns for player health and safety.
The concussion rate during kick returns has been rising, primarily due to more kicks being returned from inside the 5-yard line. College football made a similar rule change, possibly in 2018 or 2019. We reviewed their data and concluded that this is the right course of action.
The recently implemented kickoff rule is expected to take center stage during the upcoming Thursday night showdown between the defending champions, the Chiefs, and the Lions on NBC at 8:30 p.m. ET. As a result, kick returners may find themselves exercising greater caution when they observe the ball lingering in the air for a slightly extended duration.
