The NFL competitors committee is recommending making the dynamic kickoff rule everlasting and transferring touchbacks to the 35-yard line in hopes of producing much more returns.
The competitors committee launched a number of potential rule adjustments for 2025 on Wednesday, together with an growth of on the spot replay that will likely be thought-about subsequent week on the league conferences in Palm Seashore, Florida. Any rule change have to be authorized by 24 out of 32 workforce house owners.
Groups submitted a number of proposals final week that additionally could possibly be voted on on the league conferences, together with banning the “tush push” and altering playoff seeding guidelines.
Homeowners authorized a serious change to the kickoff final 12 months on a one-year trial foundation and the committee really helpful one other change to extend the speed of returns with out rising the chance of accidents. The league had 332 extra returns final season with the speed rising from a record-low 21.8% in 2023 to 32.8% final season.
 [MORE: Tush push ban among 8 proposals ahead of league meetings]
The committee hopes that transferring the touchback on kicks that attain the tip zone on the fly from the 30 to the 35 will incentivize kicking groups to go for shorter kicks that result in extra returns.
The committee additionally proposed permitting groups to declare their intention for an onside kick at any level within the sport when they’re trailing, as a substitute of solely within the fourth quarter.
The committee proposed just a few different tweaks to how gamers on the return workforce can align earlier than the kick, however the fundamentals will stay the identical with the kicker lining up at his personal 35, the ten protection gamers on the 40, and a minimum of 9 blockers lined up within the “setup zone” between the 30- and 35-yard line and as much as two returners within the touchdown zone contained in the 20.
Any kick that reaches the tip zone within the air might be returned, or the receiving workforce can go for a touchback, which now will likely be on the 35.
Ought to the Eagles’ Tush Push be banned? | Breakfast Ball
Solely the kicker and two returners are allowed to maneuver till the ball hits the bottom or is touched by a returner contained in the 20.
In response to the NFL, there have been 59 returns of a minimum of 40 yards final season, probably the most within the league since 2016, and 7 TD returns. The concussion charge fell 43% from the earlier three years and there have been the fewest lower-extremity strains on kick return performs since 2018.
The committee additionally proposed an growth of on the spot replay to permit replay help to seek the advice of on-field officers to overrule goal calls comparable to facemask penalties, whether or not there was forcible contact to the pinnacle or neck space, horse-collar tackles or tripping if there was “clear and apparent” proof {that a} foul did not happen. Replay would additionally be capable to overturn a roughing the kicker or operating into the kicker penalty if video replay confirmed the defender made contact with the ball.
The committee additionally proposed permitting two gamers to be designated to return from injured reserve if they’re positioned on IR when rosters are decreased to 53, granting playoff groups two extra return from IR spots within the postseason, and utilizing level differential because the third tiebreaker on waiver claims.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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