NFL Fans React To Controversial Proposal For 2025 Kickoff Rules
03/25/2025 07:15 PM
The NFL competition committee will reportedly follow through on an expected proposed change to the kickoff rules.
According to The Washington Post's Mark Maske, the competition committee plans to propose moving the placement of a touchback from the 30- to the 35-yard line. A year after introducing the dynamic kickoff, the league is aiming to increase returns.
Maske called the shift "likely" in October, noting that those behind the altered kickoff "originally envisioned" the 35 as the touchback spot.
Fans debated the potential kickoff change on social media.
"The 35?!? What are we doing?" NFL historian Kevin Gallagher asked. "Getting further and further away from real football."
"Starting kickoffs from the 20 yard line like in the past should be the move," a fan wrote. "It will limit the number of touchbacks, increase returns, and give returners more space to operate."
"So essentially league wants to make intentional touchbacks so punishing that teams won't even consider doing it unless Devin Hester is on the other team," NFL analyst Brett Kollmann said. "There will (continue to) be premiums on kickers who can put crazy English on kicks and still have them hit the landing zone."
"It always should have been," The 33rd Team's Dan Pizzuta claimed.
"Dallas just needs to drive 20 yards to get into Brandon Aubrey range," Jeff Deeney of Pro Football Focus mused.
Maske noted that NFL owners must re-approve the current kickoff format when meeting in Palm Beach next week. They ratified the changes last offseason for a one-year period.
That process could yield tweaks. In February, co-chairman Rich McKay said the competition committee discussed moving the spot of the touchback or pushing the kickoff back five yards when meeting at the NFL Scouting Combine. He didn't rule out proposing both, but they were more likely to choose one.
"The easier of the options to make sure that you're going to move the number up on return percentage, in my mind, is the touchback," McKay said. "Our kickers now in the game are really good. So moving the kick back, I don't know how much you impact that."
Maske said Tuesday that there's "less sentiment" to move the spot of the kickoff than the touchback. Any proposal must receive approval from 24 of 32 owners to pass.
Related: The NFL Could Make Big Change To The Touchback Rule
