During the last few seasons, new rules in the NFL have significantly reduced the impact that a kick returner can make for a team.
But it sounds like that could potentially be changing this offseason.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero recently shared on Twitter that special teams coordinators around the league have been putting together a proposal with some new kickoff rules with the intention of having kickoff returns become a factor in games again.
On Sunday, Pelissero got into some of the specifics of some of the new kickoff rules the proposal will potentially include.
No surprises: The new kickoff rule crafted by NFL special teams coordinators would allow teams to attempt an onside kick only when trailing in the fourth quarter — and require them to declare it in advance, per sources.
Language still being finalized and owners must approve. pic.twitter.com/HYJKv3EZtP
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 3, 2024
The insider revealed that the proposal would include a rule that onside kicks would only be allowed to be attempted in the fourth quarter of a matchup by a team that is trailing on the scoreboard.
So there would no longer be any more surprise onside kicks in the first three quarters of a game.
Pelissero also shared details about a proposed setup zone on each kickoff in which the kickoff coverage team would line up on their opponent’s 40-yard line and the kickoff receiving team would line up on their own 35-yard line.
Neither unit would then be permitted to move until the football is touched or until it enters a zone of the field in between the receiving team’s 20-yard line and the goal line.
NFL special teams coordinators met Saturday at the combine. Other notes on their proposal …
Setup zone: The kick and return teams would line up on the receiving team’s 40- and 35-yard lines, respectively, and not leave until the ball is touched or reaches the “target zone”…
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 3, 2024
Two different touchbacks would also be a possibility with the new kickoff rule that is being proposed.
One would spot the ball at the receiving team’s 35-yard line, and the other would spot it at their 20-yard line.
This proposal will be voted on by the NFL’s owners later this year.
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