The NFL competition committee reportedly discussed a rule change involving kickoffs on Sunday when the group of officials met in Indianapolis ahead of the new league year.
The committee could make a proposal to alter kickoffs to more closely resemble how the XFL did it in 2023, the Washington Post reported, citing a source. The rule would need to receive 24 votes to be enacted. The NFL changed the rule last season, allowing fair catches on kickoffs. But the Washington Post reported that the rule was only made for one season.
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Houston Texas' Dameon Pierce (31) celebrates a first-half kickoff return for a touchdown during the game against the Cleveland Browns at NRG Stadium in Houston on December 24, 2023. (Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“My perspective has been that we have to keep the kickoff in the game,” Atlanta Falcons CEO Rich McKay told the newspaper. “And to do that, we have to find a way to modernize it and get that game working again because that 20% return rate is not what that was intended for.” [fair catch] ruler.”
In the XFL, kickoffs were taken from the kicking team's 30-yard line. Members of the kicking team line up at the receiving team's 35-yard line and the receiving team's blockers line up at their own 30-yard line. Only the kicker and returner may move until the ball is caught or 3 seconds after the catch. the ball hits the ground. Kickoffs that go out of bounds or do not reach the receiving team's 20-yard line are moved to the kicking team's 45-yard line.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
A touchback occurs when the ball travels toward the end zone or bounces toward the end zone. If it sails into the end zone without touching the ground, the receiving team receives the ball at the 35. If it bounces into the end zone, the receiving team receives the ball at the 15.
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A team may request an onside kick. It must travel at least 10 meters but no more than 20 meters. A team could also decide to go with the 4th and 15 option instead of the kickoff. If they convert, they keep the ball.
“We just have to be open-minded enough to say, 'Can we recover plays that have gone out of play? And if we can in a creative way, we should consider it,'” McKay added.
Atlanta Falcons' Tre Flowers holds the ball for the kickoff after a Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety on Dec. 10, 2023, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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It's unclear what part of the XFL rules the NFL competition committee was considering. The XFL merged with the USFL this year to become the United Football League.
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