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Changes Could Be Coming To NFL's Onside Kick Rules

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated May 20, 2025 1:29 PM ET

NFL owners will vote on several proposed rule changes when meeting in Minneapolis. One includes a tweak to the onside kick.

Last year, the league disallowed surprise onside kicks when introducing the dynamic kickoff. Only the trailing team could announce an onside kick attempt during the fourth quarter, and the success rate tumbled to 6 percent.

This week, NFL owners will address a revised proposal to alter the play. If passed, the trailing team could try an onside kick at any point in the game. They still must declare it beforehand.

The rule also proposes moving the kicking team up one yard in hopes of creating more recoveries.

On April 1, NFL owners approved a vote to move the spot of a kickoff touchback from the 30 to the 35-yard line. The change intends to spark additional returns from last season's 32.8 percent, a boost from 2023's 21.8 percent return rate without the dynamic kickoff.

However, owners tabled discussions about the onside kick.

In December, NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent conveyed a desire to change the onside kick's current format. At the time, just three of 45 attempts were successfully recovered by the kicking team.

"We need to look at that," Vincent said, via The Washington Post's Mark Maske. "That's a dead play. That is a ceremonial play [with a] very low recovery rate."

NFL owners won't vote on a frequently floated alternative to the onside kick this offseason. The competition committee has previously discussed replacing the onside kick with a fourth-down attempt of 15 or 20 yards. The offense would stay on the field if it converts.

League owners will discuss other measures in Minneapolis. Revised proposals to ban the "Tush Push" and adjust the current playoff seeding structure are under consideration. Owners will also vote on a resolution that could pave the way for NFL players to participate in flag football during the 2028 Summer Olympics.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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