NFL’s New Kickoff Rules

During the NFL’s Spring League Meetings, the league decided to again change the NFL’s kickoff rules, in an effort to limit the injuries that often occur on these hard-hitting special teams plays. Thursday’s Hall of Fame game will be the first time these new rules are implemented, and the first opportunity for the NFL to gauge their impact.

The new kickoff rules focus on limiting high-speed collisions between players. Instead of allowing players on the kickoff team a running start prior to the kick, all players are required to line up within a yard of the line of scrimmage until the ball is kicked. The NFL’s new rules also mandate that players must be distributed equally along the line of scrimmage, with five players on each side of the ball, and at least two players between the numbers and the sideline, and between the numbers and the hash marks.

For the return team, at least eight players must line up in a 15-yard “setup zone” that stretches between 10 and 25 yards from the line of scrimmage, and up to three players can line up outside of the “setup zone” to return the kick or block for the returner. From the time the ball is kicked until the ball is touched or hits the ground, no player on the return team can block within a 15-yard “no blocking zone” that extends from the line of scrimmage toward the return team’s end zone.

Finally, no “wedge blocks” are permitted by the two extra members of the return team who are authorized to line up outside the “setup zone.”

Confused? Here is an official video from NFL Football Operations that helps explain the league’s new kickoff rules:

Following today’s vote at the @NFL Spring League Meetings, here’s everything you need to know about the new kickoff rules for the upcoming 2018 season. The rule will be reevaluated next offseason. pic.twitter.com/YubLyMBR4g

— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) May 22, 2018

Some coaches and analysts have speculated that the recent rule changes will make kickoff returns more similar to punt returns, meaning teams may be forced to utilize sure-handed punt returners instead of traditional kick returners who rely more on their straight-line speed.

Of course, if the NFL’s new kickoff rule changes end up providing an advantage to return teams during the NFL Preseason, expect coaches to use kickers or punters who can simply boot the ball out of the back of the end zone for a touchback.

These are three of the many reasons to watch Thursday’s Pro Football Hall of Fame game, including the most important reason — NFL football is back for 2018!