Competition Committee is expected to propose moving kickoff touchbacks to the 35

[Ross12]

So the NFL’s goal was to eliminate high speed collisions, but also bring the kickoff back as a play.

The rule changes last year did eliminate the high speed collisions by changing where players lined up. But there were still too many touchbacks.

My moving touchbacks to the 35 yard line, they’re treating kicks that reach the end zone similarly to how they treat kickoffs that go out of bounds. They’re trying to have the kickers kick them to the 5 or 10 yard line, and think this would be a way to incentivize that. I support this proposed change. And being an outdoor cold weather team, we’re most likely going to be the least impacted as it’s tough for kicks to reach the end zone later in the season as it is.

I get the logic, tbh I don't hate it as it'll mean teams really try their hardest not to kick it into the end zone. And if they gaffe and accidentally kick out of bounds, it's only a 5 yard difference.

Seems like it becomes important to have a kicker who has the technical skill needed to drop it on the 5-10 yard line every time. Big swing in field position.

 

[FortressX]

NFL expects kickoff returns to double if touchback is moved to the 35-yard line

The NFL expects the percentage of kickoffs returned to approximately double in 2025 compared to 2024, if the proposal to move touchbacks out to the 35-yard line passes.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[TomPatriot]

Can we just have a cheerleader kickoff? That’s all I ask.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Damn rules tinkering. They never should have messed with kickoffs to begin with, now they want to make it an even BIGGER problem. Hell, might as well put it at the 50. Better yet, just pick a couple random fans from the crowd to do kickoffs with Madden on the big board. Idiots.

My edits above
That would be WICKED PISSAH! Call it the Bob Gladieux rule.
After all the NFL is about entertainment.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Damn rules tinkering. They never should have messed with kickoffs to begin with, now they want to make it an even BIGGER problem. Hell, might as well put it at the 50. Better yet, just pick a couple random fans from the crowd to do kickoffs with Madden on the big board. Idiots.

FWIW, the primary reason they changed the rule was, effectively, to reduce top speeds on KRs to reduce the risks of lower body injuries and concussions. Despite having more kickoff returns than 2023, injuries were reduced vs. 2023 (concussions by nearly half).

Concussions decrease to historic low in 2024 NFL season

www.nfl.com

 

[Tunescribe]

FWIW, the primary reason they changed the rule was, effectively, to reduce top speeds on KRs to reduce the risks of lower body injuries and concussions. Despite having more kickoff returns than 2023, injuries were reduced vs. 2023 (concussions by nearly half).

Concussions decrease to historic low in 2024 NFL season

www.nfl.com

Yes, I know why they changed it originally but how many times now already, three? The change last season should suffice from the standpoint of improved safety if they can figure out another way to swap a few touchbacks for more returns. I'm not keen on bringing it out to the 35.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Yes, I know why they changed it originally but how many times now already, three? The change last season should suffice from the standpoint of improved safety if they can figure out another way to swap a few touchbacks for more returns. I'm not keen on bringing it out to the 35.

The only other thing I can think of would be to just push the kicker back.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

We’ve all seen the game change over the years but the kicking game — while it might be necessarily unrecognizable — is and has been unrecognizable. I wish the alternative were not so damaging (taking the league’s word for it… I don’t think they’d scrap their most entertaining play for no reason)

 

[VJCPatriot]

Competition Committee is expected to propose moving kickoff touchbacks to the 35

The NFL's Competition Committee is likely to propose moving the spot of the touchback on kickoffs from the 30- to the 35-yard line, Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports.

www.nbcsports.com

Yeesh they keep moving up the gimmes. Is there not enough scoring in NFL games yet? The defense job is getting harder and harder.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Why not skip the kickoff and just spot the ball at the 50, this is getting silly.

Took the words right out of my mouth.