Kickoffs in the NFL are going to look very different in 2024. And maybe beyond.
League owners approved a rule change that will massively change the kick that starts every game and follows every scoring play. This reform, slated for a one-year pilot program next fall, would add several new wrinkles to free kicks, ideally allowing for greater returns while rewarding kickers for accuracy. It would also, in theory, reduce injuries related to one of the most dangerous phases of the game.
So what’s new?