There could be a major rule change coming to the NFL’s kickoffs this upcoming football season, but it sounds like several NFL coaches are doing what they can to make sure the rule change doesn’t pass.
According to a report from NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the NFL is considering a rule change that would allow fair catches inside the 25-yard line, which would then count as touchbacks – similar to the current rule in college football.
“The proposal, approved by the competition committee, then tabled by the owners in March, would allow for fair catches inside the 25-yard line to be ruled as touchbacks, with the ball then being spotted at the 25. The proposal was in response to an uptick in concussions on kickoffs over the last three seasons—with 10 such concussions happening in 2020, 14 in ’21 and 19 last season,” Breer wrote for Sports Illustrated.
But it does not sound like the coaches are necessarily on board with this proposal.
“According to several sources, strong opposition to the rule change has coalesced among special teams coaches and players over the last week, bonding them to form an organized effort to kill the proposal,” Breer wrote.
It will certainly be interesting to see whether or not this proposal ultimately passes.
