There’s a chance that kickoffs will look quite a bit different this upcoming NFL season as a new proposal would make it much easier for teams to get a touchback on a kickoff return – but it isn’t exactly a popular proposal among NFL special teams coaches.
As league insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated explains, the proposal would allow players on the receiving team to call a fair catch inside the 25-yard line, which would then be called a touchback, bringing the ball up to the 25-yard line.
“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 doesn’t sound like the proposal is too popular with special teams coaches around the league, who are banning together against the potential change, according to Breer.
“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.
And it sounds like the NFL fans are right on board with the coaches as the proposal got a lot of hate on social media.
What unintended injuries can happen by extending the touch back rules to the 25 for kickoffs?
— Does it Matter? (@el_lit_88) May 19, 2023
I'm all for making the game safer and if kickoffs are a problem then kickoffs are a problem. But this proposal has to be the dumbest thing I've heard of. There is very little less exciting than a kickoff for a touchback. Spot the ball at the 25 and get on with it.
— Kevin Sours (@kevinrsours) May 19, 2023
They won't stop. Banning kickoffs is next.
— wizard needs food, badly ⏲ (@steakneggss) May 19, 2023
Interesting to see push back from the coaches and players most impacted by this proposed rule change. Curious to see if they can swing the vote https://t.co/xjbWzGP7wR
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) May 20, 2023
Good, because it’s a stupid rule. Just do away with the kickoff entirely and start everyone at the 25 if you’re going to do that https://t.co/Z4eY2B4pm7
— Pat Lane (@plane_pats) May 19, 2023
The NFL just likes to look like they care about this, it’s a perception thing and they care only when it doesn’t cost them revenue. Anecdotally I feel like there have been more serious concussions and injuries on Thursday games BUT they want to even flex those games now!! https://t.co/3IbzXI3X0J
— Nik Athans (@NewEnglandNik) May 19, 2023
It definitely wouldn’t be the first time the NFL made a rule change that wasn’t exactly popular with fans or coaches, so we’ll have to see how this turns out.
